Cosmetic compositions comprising microalgal components

ABSTRACT

The invention provides cosmetic compositions comprising microalgal biomass, whole microalgal cells, and/or microalgal oil in combination with one or more other cosmetic ingredients, and methods of making such compositions. In preferred embodiments, the microalgal components of the cosmetic compositions are derived from microalgal cultures grown heterotrophically and which comprise at least 10% oil by dry weight.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/015,921, filed Aug. 30, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/128,217, filed Jun. 27, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,557,249, which is a US national stage application under 35 USC 371 ofInternational Application No. PCT/US2009/063740, filed Nov. 9, 2009,which claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/112,464, filed Nov. 7, 2008, each of which isincorporated by reference herein.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

This application includes an electronic sequence listing in a file named“471302-Sequence.txt”, created on Nov. 3, 2015 and containing 22,173bytes, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention resides in the fields of cosmetics, cosmetics ingredients,and aquaculture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Seed oils or animal fats have been used in conventional cosmeticproducts for years. Oils from plants are typically obtained fromcultivation or harvesting wild biomass. The composition of plant oilschanges in response to weather, seasonal influences such as photoperiod,temperature, soil acidity, soil salinity, and pests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a cosmeticcomposition comprising at least 1% w/w microalgal biomass and at leastone other cosmetic ingredient, in which the microalgal biomass comprisesat least 10% microalgal oil by dry weight. In some cases, the biomasscontains at least 25% microalgal oil by dry weight. In other cases, thebiomass contains at least 35% microalgal oil by dry weight. In yet othercases, the biomass contains at least 45% microalgal oil by dry weight.In still other cases, the biomass contains at least 55% microalgal oilby dry weight. In at least one embodiment, the biomass comprisespredominantly intact algal cells.

In some embodiments of the cosmetic composition described above, thebiomass contains 10-90% microalgal oil by dry weight. In some cases, thebiomass contains from 25-80% microalgal oil by dry weight. In othercases, the biomass contains from 35-70% microalgal oil by dry weight. Instill other cases, the biomass contains from 45-60% microalgal oil bydry weight.

In various embodiments of the cosmetic compositions in accordance withthe present invention, the composition comprises at least 1% w/wmicroalgal biomass. In other cases, the composition comprises at least10% w/w microalgal biomass. In yet other cases, the compositioncomprises at least 25% w/w microalgal biomass. In still other cases, thecomposition comprises at least 50% w/w microalgal biomass. In at leastone embodiment, a cosmetic composition of the present invention is freeof oil other than microalgal oil entrapped inside the biomass.

In some cases, microalgal cosmetic compositions comprise biomass whichincludes other constituents in addition to microalgal oil, such ascarotenoids. In one embodiment, the biomass comprises at least 10 μg ofcarotenoids per gram of biomass. In other embodiments, the biomasscomprises at least 25 μg or at least 50 μg of carotenoids per gram ofbiomass. In still other embodiments, the biomass comprises 10-100 μg ofcarotenoids per gram of biomass.

In at least one embodiment, the cosmetic composition described abovecomprises biomass derived from microalgae cultured heterotrophically.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a cosmeticcomposition comprising at least 1% w/w or v/v microalgal oil and atleast one other cosmetic ingredient, in which the microalgal oil isderived from microalgae cultured heterotrophically. In some cases, themicroalgae comprise 10-90% microalgal oil by dry weight. In other cases,the microalgae comprise 25-80% microalgal oil by dry weight. In yetother cases, the microalgae comprise 35-70% microalgal oil by dryweight. In still other cases, the microalgae comprise 45-60% microalgaloil by dry weight.

In various embodiments of the cosmetic compositions comprisingmicroalgal oil, the composition comprises at least 1% w/w or v/vmicroalgal oil. In other cases, the composition comprises at least 10%w/w or v/v microalgal oil. In yet other cases, the composition comprisesat least 25% w/w or v/v microalgal oil. In still other cases, thecomposition comprises at least 50% w/w or v/v microalgal oil. In atleast one embodiment, the cosmetic composition of the present inventionis free of oil other than microalgal oil.

In some embodiments, the cosmetic composition comprises microalgal oilcomposed of a mixture of oil from at least two distinct species ofmicroalgae. In other embodiments, the cosmetic composition comprisesbiomass composed of a mixture of at least two distinct species ofmicroalgae. In some cases, at least two of the distinct species ofmicroalgae have been separately cultured. In some cases, at least two ofthe distinct species have different glycerolipid profiles. In stillother embodiments, the cosmetic composition comprises microalgal biomasscomposed of a mixture of at least two different microalgae populationwith different glycerolipid profiles.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method ofmaking a cosmetic composition comprising combining microalgal biomasswith at least one other cosmetic ingredient to form a cosmeticcomposition, in which the microalgal biomass comprises at least 15%microalgal oil by dry weight. In some cases, the method furthercomprises culturing a population of microalgae to generate the biomass.In some cases, the method further comprises drying the biomass prior tocombining the biomass with the at least one other cosmetic ingredient.

In some embodiments, the cosmetic composition formed by the methods ofthe invention comprises biomass containing 10-75% oil by dry weight. Inat least one embodiment, the biomass comprises predominantly intactmicroalgal cells. In other embodiments, the cosmetic compositioncomprises intact microalgal cells that have been homogenized to form awhole cell dispersion.

In some cases, the microalgal biomass comprises at least 1% of thecosmetic composition. In other cases, the microalgal biomass comprisesat least 5% of the cosmetic composition. In yet other cases, themicroalgal biomass comprises at least 25% of the cosmetic composition.In still other cases, the microalgal biomass comprises at least 50% ofthe cosmetic composition.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method ofmaking a cosmetic composition comprising combining algal oil obtainedfrom microalgal biomass containing at least 10% microalgal oil by dryweight with one or more other cosmetic ingredients to form a cosmeticcomposition. In some cases, the biomass comprises 10-75% microalgal oilby dry weight. In some embodiments, the method further comprisesculturing a population of microalgae to generate the biomass, andextracting the algal oil from the biomass. In some cases, the microalgaeare cultured under heterotrophic conditions.

In various embodiments, the microalgal oil comprises at least 1% byweight or by volume of the cosmetic composition formed by the methoddescribed above. In some cases, the algal oil comprises at least 5% byweight or volume of the cosmetic composition. In yet other cases, thealgal oil comprises at least 25% by weight or volume of the cosmeticcomposition. In still other cases, the algal oil comprises at least 50%by weight or by volume of the cosmetic composition.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method ofusing a microalgal biomass composition to soften and impart pliabilityto skin. In one embodiment, the method comprises applying to human skina composition comprising predominantly intact microalgal cellscontaining at least 10% microalgal oil by dry weight. In some cases, themethod further comprises retaining the composition in contact with theskin for at least 1 hour. In at least one embodiment, the composition isretained in contact with the skin for at least 3 hours. In some cases,the method of using a microalgal biomass composition further comprisesretaining the composition in contact with the skin for a period of timesufficient to release at least 50% of the oil from the intact microalgalcells by enzymatic degradation of the cells.

In various embodiments of the method of using a microalgal biomasscomposition to soften and impart pliability to skin and hair, thecomposition comprises cells containing at least 15% oil by dry weight.In some cases, the composition comprises cells containing at least 35%oil by dry weight. In other cases, the composition comprises cellscontaining at least 45% oil by dry weight. In one embodiment, thecomposition comprises cells containing 15-90% oil by dry weight. Inanother embodiment, the composition comprises cells containing 25-80%oil by dry weight. In still another embodiment, the compositioncomprises cells containing 35-70% oil by dry weight. In a preferredembodiment, the composition comprises cells containing 45-60% oil by dryweight.

In any one of the cosmetic compositions and/or methods described above,the biomass can be derived from a culture of microalgae selected fromthose recited herein. In some cases, the microalgae is a species of thegenus Chlorella. In various embodiments, the microalgae is selected fromthe group consisting of Chlorella anitrata, Chlorella antarctica,Chlorella aureoviridis, Chlorella candida, Chlorella capsulata,Chlorella desiccata, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella emersonii,Chlorella fusca, Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata, Chlorella glucotropha,Chlorella infusionum, Chlorella infusionum var. Actophila, Chlorellainfusionum var. Auxenophila, Chlorella kessleri, Chlorella luteoviridis,Chlorella luteoviridis var. aureoviridis, Chlorella luteoviridis var.Lutescens, Chlorella miniata, Chlorella minutissima, Chlorellamutabilis, Chlorella nocturna, Chlorella parva, Chlorella photophila,Chlorella pringsheimii, Chlorella protothecoides, Chlorella pyrenoidosa,Chlorella regularis, Chlorella regularis var. minima, Chlorellaregularis var. umbricata, Chlorella reisiglii, Chlorella saccharophila,Chlorella saccharophila var. ellipsoidea, Chlorella salina, Chlorellasimplex, Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella sp., Chlorella sphaerica,Chlorella stigmatophora, Chlorella vanniellii, Chlorella vulgaris,Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris f. tertia, Chlorella vulgarisvar. airidis, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris, Chlorella vulgaris var.vulgaris f. tertia, Chlorella vulgaris var. vulgaris f. viridis,Chlorella xanthella, and Chlorella zofingiensis.

In any one of the cosmetic compositions and/or methods described above,the at least one other cosmetic ingredient comprises an ingredientselected from the group consisting of absorbents, abrasives, anticakingagents, antifoaming agents, antimicrobial agents, binders, biologicaladditives, buffering agents, bulking agents, chemical additives,cosmetic biocides, denaturants, cosmetic astringents, drug astringents,external analgesics, film formers, humectants, opacifying agents,fragrances, flavor oils, pigments, colorings, essential oils, skinsensates, emollients, skin soothing agents, skin healing agents, pHadjusters, plasticizers, preservatives, preservative enhancers,propellants, reducing agents, skin-conditioning agents, skin penetrationenhancing agents, skin protectants, solvents, suspending agents,emulsifiers, thickening agents, solubilizing agents, soaps, sunscreens,sunblocks, ultraviolet light absorbers or scattering agents, sunlesstanning agents, antioxidants and/or radical scavengers, chelatingagents, sequestrants, anti-acne agents, anti-inflammatory agents,anti-androgens, depilation agents, desquamation agents/exfoliants,organic hydroxy acids, vitamins, vitamin derivatives, and naturalextracts. In at least one embodiment, the other cosmetic ingredientcomprises a soap. In some cases, the soap comprises a saponified oilderived from microalgae.

Any two or more of the various embodiments described above or herein canbe combined together to produce additional embodiments encompassedwithin the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE

The FIGURE shows a cross-section slice of whole microalgal soapcontaining high oil microalgal biomass under light microscopy at 1000×magnification. The arrows point to whole microalgae in the soapcomposition. The whole microalgae is approximately 8 microns indiameter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This detailed description of the invention is divided into sections andsubsections for the convenience of the reader. Section I providesdefinitions for various terms used herein. Section II, in parts A-E,describes methods for preparing microalgal biomass, including suitableorganisms (A), methods of generating a microalgae strain lacking in orhaving significantly reduced pigmentation (B), culture conditions (C),concentration conditions (D), and chemical composition of the biomassproduced in accordance with the invention (E). Section III, in partsA-D, describes methods for processing the microalgal biomass into algalflake (A), algal powder (B), algal flour (C), and algal oil (D) of theinvention. Section IV describes cosmetic compositions of the inventionand methods of combining microalgal biomass with other cosmeticingredients.

I. Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the meaning commonly understood by a person skilled in the art towhich this invention belongs. The following references provide one ofskill with a general definition of many of the terms used in thisinvention: Singleton et al., Dictionary of Microbiology and MolecularBiology (2nd ed. 1994); The Cambridge Dictionary of Science andTechnology (Walker ed., 1988); The Glossary of Genetics, 5th Ed., R.Rieger et al. (eds.), Springer Verlag (1991); and Hale & Marham, TheHarper Collins Dictionary of Biology (1991). As used herein, thefollowing terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless specifiedotherwise.

As used with reference to a nucleic acid, “active in microalgae” refersto a nucleic acid that is functional in microalgae. For example, apromoter that has been used to drive an antibiotic resistance gene toimpart antibiotic resistance to a transgenic microalgae is active inmicroalgae. Examples of promoters active in microalgae are promotersendogenous to certain algae species and promoters found in plantviruses.

“Axenic” means a culture of an organism that is free from contaminationby other living organisms.

“Bioreactor” means an enclosure or partial enclosure in which cells arecultured, optionally in suspension.

The term “co-culture”, and variants thereof such as “co-cultivate”,refer to the presence of two or more types of cells in the samebioreactor. The two or more types of cells may both be microorganisms,such as microalgae, or may be a microalgal cell cultured with adifferent cell type. The culture conditions may be those that fostergrowth and/or propagation of the two or more cell types or those thatfacilitate growth and/or proliferation of one, or a subset, of the twoor more cells while maintaining cellular growth for the remainder.

The term “cofactor” is used herein to refer to any molecule, other thanthe substrate, that is required for an enzyme to carry out its enzymaticactivity.

As used herein, “cosmetic ingredient” means an ingredient conventionallyused in cosmetic products that is not physically or chemicallyincompatible with the microalgal components described herein. “Cosmeticingredients” include, without limitation, absorbents, abrasives,anticaking agents, antifoaming agents, antimicrobial agents, binders,biological additives, buffering agents, bulking agents, chemicaladditives, cosmetic biocides, denaturants, cosmetic astringents, drugastringents, external analgesics, film formers, humectants, opacifyingagents, fragrances, pigments, colorings, essential oils, skin sensates,emollients, skin soothing agents, skin healing agents, pH adjusters,plasticizers, preservatives, preservative enhancers, propellants,reducing agents, skin-conditioning agents, skin penetration enhancingagents, skin protectants, solvents, suspending agents, emulsifiers,thickening agents, solubilizing agents, sunscreens, sunblocks,ultraviolet light absorbers or scattering agents, sunless tanningagents, antioxidants and/or radical scavengers, chelating agents,sequestrants, anti-acne agents, anti-inflammatory agents,anti-androgens, depilation agents, desquamation agents/exfoliants,organic hydroxy acids, vitamins and derivatives thereof, and naturalextracts. Such “cosmetic ingredients” are known in the art. Nonexclusiveexamples of such materials are described in Harry's Cosmeticology, 7thEd., Harry & Wilkinson (Hill Publishers, London 1982); in PharmaceuticalDosage Forms—Disperse Systems; Lieberman, Rieger & Banker, Vols. 1(1988) & 2 (1989); Marcel Decker, Inc.; in The Chemistry and Manufactureof Cosmetics, 2nd. Ed., deNavarre (Van Nostrand 1962-1965); and in TheHandbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, 1st Ed. Knowlton & Pearce(Elsevier 1993).

The term “cultivated”, and variants thereof, refer to the intentionalfostering of growth (increases in cell size, cellular contents, and/orcellular activity) and/or propagation (increases in cell numbers viamitosis) of one or more cells by use of intended culture conditions. Thecombination of both growth and propagation may be termed proliferation.The one or more cells may be those of a microorganism, such asmicroalgae. Examples of intended conditions include the use of a definedmedium (with known characteristics such as pH, ionic strength, andcarbon source), specified temperature, oxygen tension, carbon dioxidelevels, and growth in a bioreactor.

As used herein, the term “cytolysis” refers to the lysis of cells in ahypotonic environment. Cytolysis is caused by excessive osmosis, ormovement of water, towards the inside of a cell (hyperhydration). Thecell cannot withstand the osmotic pressure of the water inside, and soit explodes.

“Dispersion” refers to a distribution of particles more or less evenlythroughout a medium, including a liquid or gas. One common form ofdispersion is an emulsion made up of a mixture of two or more immiscibleliquids such as oil and water.

As used herein, the terms “dry weight” or “dry cell weight” refer toweight as determined in the relative absence of water. For example,reference to a component of microalgal biomass as comprising a specifiedpercentage by dry weight means that the percentage is calculated basedon the weight of the biomass after all or substantially all water hasbeen removed.

“Exogenous gene” refers to a nucleic acid transformed into a cell. Atransformed cell may be referred to as a recombinant cell, into whichadditional exogenous gene(s) may be introduced. The exogenous gene maybe from a different species (and so heterologous), or from the samespecies (and so homologous) relative to the cell being transformed. Inthe case of a homologous gene, it occupies a different location in thegenome of the cell relative to the endogenous copy of the gene. Theexogenous gene may be present in more than one copy in the cell. Theexogenous gene may be maintained in a cell as an insertion into thegenome or as an episomal molecule.

“Exogenously provided” describes a molecule provided to the culturemedia of a cell culture.

“Fixed carbon source” means molecule(s) containing carbon, preferablyorganic, that are present at ambient temperature and pressure in solidor liquid form.

“Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMP) refers to the regulationspromulgated by the US Food and Drug Association under the authority ofFood, Drug and Cosmetics Act that require manufacturers to takeprecautions to insure that their products are safe, pure and effective.Chapter VI of the FD&C (21 U.S.C. 361) covers regulations related tocosmetics.

“Glycerolipid profile” refers to the distribution of different carbonchain lengths and saturation levels of glycerolipids in a particularsample of biomass or oil. For example, a sample could containglycerolipids in which approximately 60% of the glycerolipid is C18:1,20% is C18:0, 15% is C16:0, and 5% is C14:0. In cases in which a carbonlength is referenced generically, such as “C:18”, such reference caninclude any amount of saturation; for example, microalgal biomass thatcontains 20% lipid as C:18 can include C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, and thelike, in equal or varying amounts, the sum of which constitute 20% ofthe biomass.

“Homogenate” means biomass that has been physically disrupted.

“Homogenize” means to blend two or more substances into a homogenous oruniform mixture. In some embodiments, a homogenate is created. In otherembodiments, the biomass is predominantly intact, but homogeneouslydistributed throughout the mixture.

As used herein, the phrase “increase lipid yield” refers to an increasein the productivity of a microbial culture by, for example, increasingdry weight of cells per liter of culture, increasing the percentage ofcells that constitute lipid, or increasing the overall amount of lipidper liter of culture volume per unit time.

The term “in situ” means “in place” or “in its original position”. Forexample, a culture may contain a first microalgae secreting a catalystand a second microorganism secreting a substrate, wherein the first andsecond cell types produce the components necessary for a particularchemical reaction to occur in situ in the co-culture without requiringfurther separation or processing of the materials.

“Lipids” are a class of molecules that are soluble in nonpolar solvents(such as ether and hexane) and are relatively or completely insoluble inwater. Lipid molecules have these properties because they consistlargely of long hydrocarbon tails which are hydrophobic in nature.Examples of lipids include fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated);glycerides or glycerolipids (such as monoglycerides, diglycerides,triglycerides or neutral fats, and phosphoglycerides orglycerophospholipids); nonglycerides (sphingolipids, tocopherols,tocotrienols, sterol lipids including cholesterol and steroid hormones,prenol lipids including terpenoids, fatty alcohols, waxes, andpolyketides); and complex lipid derivatives (sugar-linked lipids, orglycolipids, and protein-linked lipids).

As used herein, the term “lysate” refers to a solution containing thecontents of lysed cells.

As used herein, the term “lysis” refers to the breakage of the plasmamembrane and optionally the cell wall of a biological organismsufficient to release at least some intracellular content, often bymechanical, viral or osmotic mechanisms that compromise its integrity.

As used herein, the term “lysing” refers to disrupting the cellularmembrane and optionally the cell wall of a biological organism or cellsufficient to release at least some intracellular content.

“Microalgae” means a eukaryotic microbial organism that contains achloroplast, and optionally that is capable of performingphotosynthesis, or a prokaryotic microbial organism capable ofperforming photosynthesis. Microalgae include obligate photoautotrophs,which cannot metabolize a fixed carbon source as energy, as well asheterotrophs, which can metabolize a fixed carbon source. Microalgae canrefer to unicellular organisms that separate from sister cells shortlyafter cell division, such as Chlamydomonas, and can also refer tomicrobes such as, for example, Volvox, which is a simple multicellularphotosynthetic microbe of two distinct cell types. “Microalgae” can alsorefer to cells such as Chlorella, Dunaliella, and the like. “Microalgae”also includes other microbial photosynthetic organisms that exhibitcell-cell adhesion, such as Agmenellum, Anabaena, and Pyrobotrys.“Microalgae” also includes obligate heterotrophic microorganisms thathave lost the ability to perform photosynthesis and may or may notpossess a chloroplast or chloroplast remnant, such as certaindinoflagellate algae species and species of the genus Prototheca.

As used herein, “microalgal biomass,” “algal biomass” or “biomass”refers to material produced by growth and/or propagation of microalgalcells. Biomass may contain cells and/or intracellular contents as wellas extracellular material. Extracellular material includes, but is notlimited to, compounds secreted by a cell.

As used herein, “microalgal oil” or “algal oil” refers to lipidcomponents produced by microalgal cells, including triacylglycerols.

The terms “microorganism” and “microbe” are used interchangeably hereinto refer to microscopic unicellular organisms.

Unless otherwise indicated by the context in which it is used herein,“oil” means lipid compounds, primarily triacylglycerides, includingplants and/or animals. For example, “oil” refers to vegetable or otherseed oils derived from plants, including without limitation, an oilderived from soy, rapeseed, canola, palm, palm kernel, coconut, corn,olive, sunflower, cotton seed, cuphea, peanut, camelina sativa, mustardseed, cashew nut, oats, lupine, kenaf, calendula, hemp, coffee, linseed,hazelnut, euphorbia, pumpkin seed, coriander, camellia, sesame,safflower, rice, tung oil tree, cocoa, copra, pium poppy, castor beans,pecan, jojoba, jatropha, macadamia, Brazil nuts, avocado, orcombinations thereof.

As used herein, the term “osmotic shock” refers to the rupture of cellsin a solution following a sudden reduction in osmotic pressure. Osmoticshock is sometimes induced to release cellular components of such cellsinto a solution.

“Photobioreactor” refers to a container, at least part of which is atleast partially transparent or partially open, thereby allowing light topass through, in which one or more microalgae cells are cultured.Photobioreactors may be closed, as in the instance of a polyethylene bagor Erlenmeyer flask, or may be open to the environment, as in theinstance of an outdoor pond.

As used herein, a “polysaccharide-degrading enzyme” refers to any enzymecapable of catalyzing the hydrolysis, or depolymerization, of anypolysaccharide. For example, cellulases catalyze the hydrolysis ofcellulose.

“Polysaccharides” (also called “glycans”) are carbohydrates made up ofmonosaccharides joined together by glycosidic linkages. Cellulose is anexample of a polysaccharide that makes up certain plant cell walls.Cellulose can be depolymerized by enzymes to yield monosaccharides suchas xylose and glucose, as well as larger disaccharides andoligosaccharides.

As used herein, “predominantly intact cells” refers to a population ofcells which comprise more than 50%, 75%, or 90% intact cells. “Intact”refers to the physical continuity of the cellular membrane enclosing theintracellular components of the cell and means that the cellularmembrane has not been disrupted in any manner that would release theintracellular components of the cell to an extent that exceeds thepermeability of the cellular membrane under conventional cultureconditions or those culture conditions described herein.

As used herein, the term “sonication” refers to a process of disruptingbiological materials, such as a cell, by use of sound wave energy.

Reference to proportions by volume, i.e., “v/v,” means the ratio of thevolume of one substance or composition to the volume of a secondsubstance or composition. For example, reference to a composition thatcomprises 5% v/v microalgal oil and at least one other cosmeticingredient means that 5% of the composition's volume is composed ofmicroalgal oil; e.g., a composition having a volume of 100 mm³ wouldcontain 5 mm³ of microalgal oil and 95 mm³ of other constituents.

Reference to proportions by weight, i.e., “w/w,” means the ratio of theweight of one substance or composition to the weight of a secondsubstance or composition. For example, reference to a cosmeticcomposition that comprises 5% w/w microalgal biomass and at least oneother cosmetic ingredient means that 5% of the cosmetic composition iscomposed of microalgal biomass; e.g., a 100 mg cosmetic compositionwould contain 5 mg of microalgal biomass and 95 mg of otherconstituents.

II. Methods for Preparing Microalgal Biomass

Some aspects of the invention are premised in part on the insight thatcertain microorganisms, and in particular, microalgae, can be used toproduce oils and biomass economically for use in the cosmetic industry.Preferred genus of microalgae for use in the invention is thelipid-producing microalgae Chlorella. The present application describesmethods of culturing Chlorella as well as multiple other species ofmicroalgae to generate biomass, particularly high oil content biomass,and algal oils for use in cosmetic products.

A. Microalgae for Use in the Methods of the Invention

Any species of microalgae that produces suitable oils and/or lipids canbe used in accordance with the present invention, although microalgaethat naturally produce high levels of suitable oils and/or lipids arepreferred.

Considerations affecting the selection of microalgae for use in theinvention include, in addition to production of suitable oils or lipidsfor production of cosmetics products: (1) high lipid content as apercentage of cell weight; (2) ease of growth; (3) ease of propagation;(4) ease of biomass processing; (5) glycerolipid profile and (6) lack ofalgal toxins. Example 22 below illustrates an embodiment of driedmicroalgae biomass (and oils or lipids extracted from the biomass) thatis suitable to be included in cosmetic products because of the lack ofalgal toxins. In some embodiments, the cell wall of the microalgae mustbe disrupted during the use of the cosmetic product (e.g., soapscontaining whole microalgal cells) in order to release the activecomponents. Hence, in some embodiments having strains of microalgae withcell walls susceptible to disruption are preferred. This criterion isparticularly preferred when the algal biomass is to be used as wholealgal cells as an ingredient in the final cosmetic production accordancewith the present invention. Susceptibility to disruption of the cellwall is generally decreased for microalgal strains which have a highcontent of cellulose/hemicellulose in the cell walls.

In particular embodiments, the wild-type or genetically engineeredmicroalgae comprise cells that are at least 10%, at least 15%, at least20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least70%, at least 75%, or at least 80% or more oil by dry weight. Preferredorganisms grow heterotrophically (on sugars in the absence of light).Processing considerations can include, for example, the availability ofeffective means for lysing the cells. It should be noted that not alltypes of lipids are desirable for use in cosmetics or as cosmeticingredients, as they may have aesthetic issues, such as smelling bad,having poor stability or providing a poor tactile sensation.

Microalgae from the genus Chlorella are generally useful in the methodsof the invention. Chlorella is a genus of single-celled green algae,belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta. Chlorella cells are generallyspherical in shape, about 2 to 10 μm in diameter, and lack flagella.Some species of Chlorella are naturally heterotrophic. In preferredembodiments, the microalgae used in the methods of the invention isChlorella protothecoides, Chlorella ellipsoidea, Chlorella minutissima,Chlorella zofinienesi, Chlorella luteoviridis, Chlorella kessleri,Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata Chlorella sp.,Chlorella cf. minutissima or Chlorella emersonii. Chlorella,particularly Chlorella protothecoides, is a preferred microorganism foruse in the methods of the invention because of its high composition oflipid. Particularly preferred species of Chlorella protothecoides foruse in the methods of the invention include those exemplified in theexamples below.

Other species of Chlorella suitable for use in the methods of theinvention include the species selected from the group consisting ofanitrata, Antarctica, aureoviridis, candida, capsulate, desiccate,ellipsoidea (including strain CCAP 211/42), emersonii, fusca (includingvar. vacuolata), glucotropha, infusionum (including var. actophila andvar. auxenophila), kessleri (including any of UTEX strains397,2229,398), lobophora (including strain SAG 37.88), luteoviridis(including strain SAG 2203 and var. aureoviridis and lutescens),miniata, cf. minutissima, minutissima (including UTEX strain 2341),mutabilis, nocturna, ovalis, parva, photophila, pringsheimii,protothecoides (including any of UTEX strains 1806, 411, 264, 256, 255,250, 249, 31, 29, 25 or CCAP 211/8D, or CCAP 211/17 and var. acidicola),regularis (including var. minima, and umbricata), reisiglii (includingstrain CCP 11/8), saccharophila (including strain CCAP 211/31, CCAP211/32 and var. ellipsoidea), salina, simplex, sorokiniana (includingstrain SAG 211.40B), sp. (including UTEX strain 2068 and CCAP 211/92),sphaerica, stigmatophora, trebouxioides, vanniellii, vulgaris (includingstrains CCAP 211/11K, CCAP 211/80 and f. tertia and var. autotrophica,viridis, vulgaris, vulgaris f. tertia, vulgaris f. viridis), xanthella,and zofingiensis.

Species of Chlorella (and species from other microalgae genera) for usein the invention can be identified by comparison of certain targetregions of their genome with those same regions of species identifiedherein; preferred species are those that exhibit identity or at least avery high level of homology with the species identified herein. Forexample, identification of a specific Chlorella species or strain can beachieved through amplification and sequencing of nuclear and/orchloroplast DNA using primers and methodology using appropriate regionsof the genome, for example using the methods described in Wu et al.,Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 42:115-121 (2001), Identification of Chlorellaspp. isolates using ribosomal DNA sequences. Well established methods ofphylogenetic analysis, such as amplification and sequencing of ribosomalinternal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA), 23S RNA, 18S rRNA, andother conserved genomic regions can be used by those skilled in the artto identify species of not only Chlorella, but other oil and lipidproducing microalgae suitable for use in the methods disclosed herein.For examples of methods of identification and classification of algaesee Genetics, 170(4):1601-10 (2005) and RNA, 11(4):361-4 (2005).

Thus, genomic DNA comparison can be used to identify suitable species ofmicroalgae to be used in the present invention. Regions of conservedgenomic DNA, such as and not limited to DNA encoding for 23S rRNA, canbe amplied from microalgal species that may be, for example,taxonomically related to the preferred microalgae used in the presentinvention and compared to the corresponding regions of those preferredspecies. Species that exhibit a high level of similarity are thenselected for use in the methods of the invention. Illustrative examplesof such DNA sequence comparison among species within the Chlorella genusare presented below. In some cases, the microalgae that are preferredfor use in the present invention have genomic DNA sequences encoding for23S rRNA that have at least 65% nucleotide identity to at least one ofthe sequences listed in SEQ ID NOs:1-23 and 26-27. In other cases,microalgae that are preferred for use in the present invention havegenomic DNA sequences encoding for 23S rRNA that have at least 75%, 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or greater nucleotide identity to at leastone or more of the sequences listed in SEQ ID NOs:1-23 and 26-27.Genotyping of a cosmetic composition and/or of algal biomass before itis combined with other ingredients to formulate a cosmetic compositionis also a reliable method for determining if algal biomass is from morethan a single strain of microalgae.

For sequence comparison to determine percent nucleotide or amino acididentity, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to whichtest sequences are compared. In applying a sequence comparisonalgorithm, test and reference sequences are input into a computer,subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequencealgorithm program parameters are designated. The sequence comparisonalgorithm then calculates the percent sequence identity for the testsequence(s) relative to the reference sequence, based on the designatedprogram parameters. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can beconducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman,Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm ofNeedleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search forsimilarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms(GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics SoftwarePackage, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or byvisual inspection (see generally Ausubel et al., supra). Another examplealgorithm that is suitable for determining percent sequence identity andsequence similarity is the BLAST algorithm, which is described inAltschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990). Software forperforming BLAST analyses is publicly available through the NationalCenter for Biotechnology Information (at the web address www.ncbi.nlmnih gov).

In addition to Chlorella, other genera of microalgae can also be used inthe methods of the present invention. In preferred embodiments, themicroalgae is a species selected from the group consisting Parachlorellakessleri, Parachlorella beijerinckii, Neochloris oleabundans,Bracteacoccus, including B. grandis, B. cinnabarinas, and B. aerius,Bracteococcus sp. or Scenedesmus rebescens. Other nonlimiting examplesof microalgae species include those species from the group of speciesand genera consisting of Achnanthes orientalis; Agmenellum; Amphiprorahyaline; Amphora, including A. coffeiformis including A.c. linea, A.c.punctata, A.c. taylori, A.c. tenuis, A.c. delicatissima, A.c.delicatissima capitata; Anabaena; Ankistrodesmus, including A. falcatus;Boekelovia hooglandii; Borodinella; Botryococcus braunii, including B.sudeticus; Bracteoccocus, including B. aerius, B.grandis,B.cinnabarinas, B.minor, and B.medionucleatus; Carteria; Chaetoceros,including C. gracilis, C. muelleri, and C. muelleri subsalsum;Chlorococcum, including C. infusionum; Chlorogonium; Chroomonas;Chrysosphaera; Cricosphaera; Crypthecodinium cohnii; Cryptomonas;Cyclotella, including C. cryptica and C. meneghiniana; Dunaliella,including D. bardawil, D. bioculata, D. granulate, D. maritime, D.minuta, D. parva, D. peircei, D. primolecta, D. salina, D. terricola, D.tertiolecta, and D. viridis; Eremosphaera, including E. viridis;Ellipsoidon; Euglena; Franceia; Fragilaria, including F. crotonensis;Gleocapsa; Gloeothamnion; Hymenomonas; Isochrysis, including I. aff.galbana and I. galbana; Lepocinclis; Micractinium (including UTEX LB2614); Monoraphidium, including M. minutum; Monoraphidium; Nannochloris;Nannochloropsis, including N. salina; Navicula, including N. acceptata,N. biskanterae, N. pseudotenelloides, N. pelliculosa, and N. saprophila;Neochloris oleabundans; Nephrochloris; Nephroselmis; Nitschia communis;Nitzschia, including N. alexandrina, N. communis, N. dissipata, N.frustulum, N. hantzschiana, N. inconspicua, N. intermedia, N.microcephala, N. pusilla, N. pusilla elliptica, N. pusilla monoensis,and N. quadrangular; Ochromonas; Oocystis, including O. parva and O.pusilla; Oscillatoria, including O. limnetica and O. subbrevis;Parachlorella, including P. beijerinckii (including strain SAG 2046) andP. kessleri (including any of SAG strains 11.80, 14.82, 21.11H9);Pascheria, including P. acidophila; Pavlova; Phagus; Phormidium;Platymonas; Pleurochrysis, including P. carterae and P. dentate;Prototheca, including P. stagnora (including UTEX 327), P.portoricensis, and P. moriformis (including UTEX strains 1441,1435,1436, 1437, 1439); Pseudochlorella aquatica; Pyramimonas; Pyrobotrys;Rhodococcus opacus; Sarcinoid chrysophyte; Scenedesmus, including S.armatus and S. rubescens; Schizochytrium; Spirogyra; Spirulinaplatensis; Stichococcus; Synechococcus; Tetraedron; Tetraselmis,including T. suecica; Thalassiosira weissflogii; and Viridiellafridericiana.

B. Methods of Generating a Microalgae Strain Lacking or that hasSignificantly Reduced Pigmentation

Microalgae, such as Chlorella, can be capable of either photosyntheticor heterotrophic growth. When grown in heterotrophic conditions wherethe carbon source is a fixed carbon source and in the absence of light,the normally green colored microalgae has a yellow color, lacking or issignificantly reduced in green pigmentation. Microalgae of reduced (orlacking in) green pigmentation can be advantageous as a cosmeticingredient. One advantage of microalgae of reduced (or is lacking in)green pigmentation is that as a cosmetic ingredient, the addition of themicroalgae to cosmetics will not impart a green color that can beunappealing to the consumer. The reduced green pigmentation ofmicroalgae grown under heterotrophic conditions is transient. Whenswitched back to phototrophic growth, microalgae capable of bothphototrophic and heterotrophic growth will regain the greenpigmentation. Thus, it is advantageous to generate a microalgae strainthat is capable of heterotrophic growth, so it is reduced or lacking ingreen pigmentation.

In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to reduce the amount ofgeneral pigmentation (whether yellow or green). One method forgenerating such microalgae strain lacking in or has significantlyreduced pigmentation is through mutagenesis and then screening for thedesired phenotype. Several methods of mutagenesis are known andpracticed in the art. For example, Urano et al., (Urano et al., JBioscience Bioengineering (2000) v. 90(5): pp. 567-569) describes yellowand white color mutants of Chlorella ellipsoidea generated using UVirradiation. Kamiya (Kamiya, Plant Cell Physiol. (1989) v. 30(4):513-521) describes a colorless strain of Chlorella vulgaris, 11h (M125).

In addition to mutagenesis by UV irradiation, chemical mutagenesis canalso be employed in order to generate microalgae with reduced (orlacking in) pigmentation. Chemical mutagens such as ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) or N-methyl-N′nitro-N-nitroguanidine (NTG) havebeen shown to be effective chemical mutagens on a variety of microbesincluding yeast, fungi, mycobacterium and microalgae. Mutagenesis canalso be carried out in several rounds, where the microalgae is exposedto the mutagen (either UV or chemical or both) and then screened for thedesired reduced pigmentation phenotype. Colonies with the desiredphenotype are then streaked out on plates and reisolated to ensure thatthe mutation is stable from one generation to the next and that thecolony is pure and not of a mixed population.

In a particular example, Chlorella protothecoides was used to generatestrains lacking in or with reduced pigmentation using a combination ofUV and chemical mutagenesis. Chlorella protothecoides was exposed to around of chemical mutagenesis with NTG and colonies were screened forcolor mutants. Colonies not exhibiting color mutations were thensubjected to a round of UV irradiation and were again screened for colormutants. In one embodiment, a Chlorella protothecoides strain lacking inpigmentation was isolated and is Chlorella protothecoides 33-55,deposited on Oct. 13, 2009 at the American Type Culture Collection at10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, in accordance withthe Budapest Treaty, with a Patent Deposit Designation of PTA-XXXX. Inanother embodiment, a Chlorella protothecoides strain with reducedpigmentation was isolated and is Chlorella protothecoides 25-32,deposited on Oct. 13, 2009 at the American Type Culture Collection at10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, in accordance withthe Budapest Treaty, with a Patent Deposit Designation of PTA-XXXX.

C. Media and Culture Conditions for Microalgae

Microalgae are cultured in liquid media to propagate biomass inaccordance with the methods of the invention. In the methods of theinvention, microalgal species are grown in a medium containing a fixedcarbon and/or fixed nitrogen source in the absence of light. Such growthis known as heterotrophic growth. For some species of microalgae, forexample, heterotrophic growth for extended periods of time such as 10 to15 or more days under limited nitrogen conditions results accumulationof high lipid content in cells.

Microalgal culture media typically contains components such as a fixedcarbon source (discussed below), a fixed nitrogen source (such asprotein, soybean meal, yeast extract, cornsteep liquor, ammonia (pure orin salt form), nitrate, or nitrate salt), trace elements (for example,zinc, boron, cobalt, copper, manganese, and molybdenum in, e.g., therespective forms of ZnCl₂, H₃BO₃, CoCl₂.6H₂O, CuCl₂.2H₂O, MnCl₂.4H₂O and(NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄.4H₂O), optionally a buffer for pH maintenance, andphosphate (a source of phosphorous; other phosphate salts can be used).Other components include salts such as sodium chloride, particularly forseawater microalgae.

In a particular example, a medium suitable for culturing Chlorellaprotothecoides comprises Proteose Medium. This medium is suitable foraxenic cultures, and a 1 L volume of the medium (pH ˜6.8) can beprepared by addition of 1 g of proteose peptone to 1 liter of BristolMedium. Bristol medium comprises 2.94 mM NaNO₃, 0.17 mM CaCl₂.2H₂O, 0.3mM MgSO₄.7H₂O, 0.43 mM, 1.29 mM KH₂PO₄, and 1.43 mM NaCl in an aqueoussolution. For 1.5% agar medium, 15 g of agar can be added to 1 L of thesolution. The solution is covered and autoclaved, and then stored at arefrigerated temperature prior to use. Other methods for the growth andpropagation of Chlorella protothecoides to high oil levels as apercentage of dry weight have been described (see for example Miao andWu, J. Biotechnology, 2004, 11:85-93 and Miao and Wu, BiosourceTechnology (2006) 97:841-846 (demonstrating fermentation methods forobtaining 55% oil dry cell weight)). High oil algae can typically begenerated by increasing the length of a fermentation while providing anexcess of carbon source under nitrogen limitation.

Solid and liquid growth media are generally available from a widevariety of sources, and instructions for the preparation of particularmedia that is suitable for a wide variety of strains of microorganismscan be found, for example, online at http://www.utex.org/, a sitemaintained by the University of Texas at Austin for its culturecollection of algae (UTEX). For example, various fresh water mediainclude 1/2, 1/3, 1/5, 1×, 2/3, 2×CHEV Diatom Medium; 1:1 DYIII/PEA+Gr+;Ag Diatom Medium; Allen Medium; BG11-1 Medium; Bold 1NV and 3N Medium;Botryococcus Medium; Bristol Medium; Chu's Medium; CR1, CR1-S, andCR1+Diatom Medium; Cyanidium Medium; Cyanophycean Medium; Desmid Medium;DYIII Medium; Euglena Medium; HEPES Medium; J Medium; Malt Medium; MESMedium; Modified Bold 3N Medium; Modified COMBO Medium; N/20 Medium;Ochromonas Medium; P49 Medium; Polytomella Medium; Proteose Medium; SnowAlgae Media; Soil Extract Medium; Soilwater: BAR, GR−, GR−/NH4, GR+,GR+/NH4, PEA, Peat, and VT Medium; Spirulina Medium; Tap Medium;Trebouxia Medium; Volvocacean Medium; Volvocacean-3N Medium; VolvoxMedium; Volvox-Dextrose Medium; Waris Medium; and Waris+Soil ExtractMedium. Various Salt Water Media include: 1%, 5%, and 1× F/2 Medium;1/2, 1×, and 2× Erdschreiber's Medium; 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1×, 5/3, and2× Soil+Seawater Medium; 1/4 ERD; 2/3 Enriched Seawater Medium; 20%Allen+80% ERD; Artificial Seawater Medium; BG11-1+0.36% NaCl Medium;BG11-1+1% NaCl Medium; Bold 1NV:Erdshreiber (1:1) and (4:1);Bristol-NaCl Medium; Dasycladales Seawater Medium; 1/2 and 1× EnrichedSeawater Medium, including ES/10, ES/2, and ES/4; F/2+NH4; LDM Medium;Modified 1× and 2×CHEV; Modified 2×CHEV+Soil; Modified ArtificialSeawater Medium; Porphridium Medium; and SS Diatom Medium.

Other suitable media for use with the methods of the invention can bereadily identified by consulting the URL identified above, or byconsulting other organizations that maintain cultures of microorganisms,such as SAG, CCAP, or CCALA. SAG refers to the Culture Collection ofAlgae at the University of Göttingen (Göttingen, Germany), CCAP refersto the culture collection of algae and protozoa managed by the ScottishAssociation for Marine Science (Scotland, United Kingdom), and CCALArefers to the culture collection of algal laboratory at the Institute ofBotany (T{hacek over (r)}ebo{hacek over (n)}, Czech Republic).

Microorganisms useful in accordance with the methods of the presentinvention are found in various locations and environments throughout theworld. As a consequence of their isolation from other species and theirresulting evolutionary divergence, the particular growth medium foroptimal growth and generation of oil and/or lipid and/or protein fromany particular species of microbe can be difficult or impossible topredict, but those of skill in the art can readily find appropriatemedia by routine testing in view of the disclosure herein. In somecases, certain strains of microorganisms may be unable to grow on aparticular growth medium because of the presence of some inhibitorycomponent or the absence of some essential nutritional requirementrequired by the particular strain of microorganism. The examples belowprovide exemplary methods of culturing various species of microalgae toaccumulate high levels of lipid as a percentage of dry cell weight.

The fixed carbon source is a key component of the medium. Suitable fixedcarbon sources for purposes of the present invention, include, forexample, glucose, fructose, sucrose, galactose, xylose, mannose,rhamnose, arabinose, N-acetylglucosamine, glycerol, floridoside,glucuronic acid, and/or acetate.

High lipid biomass from microalgae is an advantageous material forinclusion in cosmetic products compared to low lipid biomass, because itallows for the addition of less microalgal biomass to incorporate thesame amount of lipid into a cosmetic composition. Process conditions canbe adjusted to increase the percentage weight of cells that is lipid.For example, in certain embodiments, a microalgae is cultured in thepresence of a limiting concentration of one or more nutrients, such as,for example, nitrogen, phosphorous, or sulfur, while providing an excessof a fixed carbon source, such as glucose. Nitrogen limitation tends toincrease microbial lipid yield over microbial lipid yield in a culturein which nitrogen is provided in excess. In particular embodiments, theincrease in lipid yield is at least about 10%, 50%, 100%, 200%, or 500%.The microbe can be cultured in the presence of a limiting amount of anutrient for a portion of the total culture period or for the entireperiod. In some embodiments, the nutrient concentration is cycledbetween a limiting concentration and a non-limiting concentration atleast twice during the total culture period.

In a steady growth state, the cells accumulate oil but do not undergocell division. In one embodiment of the invention, the growth state ismaintained by continuing to provide all components of the originalgrowth media to the cells with the exception of a fixed nitrogen source.Cultivating microalgal cells by feeding all nutrients originallyprovided to the cells except a fixed nitrogen source, such as throughfeeding the cells for an extended period of time, results in a higherpercentage of lipid by dry cell weight.

In other embodiments, high lipid biomass is generated by feeding a fixedcarbon source to the cells after all fixed nitrogen has been consumedfor extended periods of time, such as at least one or two weeks. In someembodiments, cells are allowed to accumulate oil in the presence of afixed carbon source and in the absence of a fixed nitrogen source forover 20 days. Microalgae grown using conditions described herein orotherwise known in the art can comprise at least about 20% lipid by dryweight, and often comprise 35%, 45%, 55%, 65%, and even 75% or morelipid by dry weight. Percentage of dry cell weight as lipid in microbiallipid production can therefore be improved by holding cells in aheterotrophic growth state in which they consume carbon and accumulateoil but do not undergo cell division.

High protein biomass from algae is another advantageous material forinclusion in cosmetic products. The methods of the invention can alsoprovide biomass that has at least 30% of its dry cell weight as protein.Growth conditions can be adjusted to increase the percentage weight ofcells that is protein. In a preferred embodiment, a microalgae iscultured in a nitrogen rich environment and an excess of fixed carbonenergy such as glucose or any of the other carbon sources discussedabove. Conditions in which nitrogen is in excess tends to increasemicrobial protein yield over microbial protein yield in a culture inwhich nitrogen is not provided in excess. For maximal proteinproduction, the microbe is preferably cultured in the presence of excessnitrogen for the total culture period. Suitable nitrogen sources formicroalgae may come from organic nitrogen sources and/or inorganicnitrogen sources.

Organic nitrogen sources have been used in microbial cultures since theearly 1900s. The use of organic nitrogen sources, such as corn steepliquor was popularized with the production of penicillin from mold.Researchers found that the inclusion of corn steep liquor in the culturemedium increased the growth of the microoranism and resulted in anincreased yield in products (such as penicillin). An analysis of cornsteep liquor determined that it was a rich source of nitrogen and alsovitamins such as B-complex vitamins, riboflavin panthothenic acid,niacin, inositol and nutrient minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium,phosphorus and potassium (Ligget and Koffler, Bacteriological Reviews(1948); 12(4): 297-311). Organic nitrogen sources, such as corn steepliquor, have been used in fermentation media for yeasts, bacteria, fungiand other microorganisms. Non-limiting examples of organic nitrogensources are yeast extract, peptone, corn steep liquor and corn steeppowder. Non-limiting examples of preferred inorganic nitrogen sourcesinclude, for example, and without limitation, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and NH₄OH. Inone embodiment, the culture media for carrying out the inventioncontains only inorganic nitrogen sources. In another embodiment, theculture media for carrying out the invention contains only organicnitrogen sources. In yet another embodiment, the culture media forcarrying out the invention contains a mixture of organic and inorganicnitrogen sources.

In the methods of the invention, a bioreactor or fermentor is used toculture microalgal cells through the various phases of theirphysiological cycle. As an example, an inoculum of lipid-producingmicroalgal cells is introduced into the medium; there is a lag period(lag phase) before the cells begin to propagate. Following the lagperiod, the propagation rate increases steadily and enters the log, orexponential, phase. The exponential phase is in turn followed by aslowing of propagation due to decreases in nutrients such as nitrogen,increases in toxic substances, and quorum sensing mechanisms. After thisslowing, propagation stops, and the cells enter a stationary phase orsteady growth state, depending on the particular environment provided tothe cells. For obtaining protein rich biomass, the culture is typicallyharvested during or shortly after then end of the exponential phase. Forobtaining lipid rich biomass, the culture is typically harvested wellafter then end of the exponential phase, which may be terminated earlyby allowing nitrogen or another key nutrient (other than carbon) tobecome depleted, forcing the cells to convert the carbon sources,present in excess, to lipid. Culture condition parameters can bemanipulated to optimize total oil production, the combination of lipidspecies produced, and/or production of a specific oil.

Bioreactors offer many advantages for use in heterotrophic growth andpropagation methods. As will be appreciated, provisions made to makelight available to the cells in photosynthetic growth methods areunnecessary when using a fixed-carbon source in the heterotrophic growthand propagation methods described herein. To produce biomass for use incosmetics, microalgae are preferably fermented in large quantities inliquid, such as in suspension cultures as an example. Bioreactors suchas steel fermentors (5000 liter, 10,000 liter, 40,000 liter, and higherare used in various embodiments of the invention) can accommodate verylarge culture volumes. Bioreactors also typically allow for the controlof culture conditions such as temperature, pH, oxygen tension, andcarbon dioxide levels. For example, bioreactors are typicallyconfigurable, for example, using ports attached to tubing, to allowgaseous components, like oxygen or nitrogen, to be bubbled through aliquid culture.

Bioreactors can be configured to flow culture media though thebioreactor throughout the time period during which the microalgaereproduce and increase in number. In some embodiments, for example,media can be infused into the bioreactor after inoculation but beforethe cells reach a desired density. In other instances, a bioreactor isfilled with culture media at the beginning of a culture, and no moreculture media is infused after the culture is inoculated. In otherwords, the microalgal biomass is cultured in an aqueous medium for aperiod of time during which the microalgae reproduce and increase innumber; however, quantities of aqueous culture medium are not flowedthrough the bioreactor throughout the time period. Thus in someembodiments, aqueous culture medium is not flowed through the bioreactorafter inoculation.

Bioreactors equipped with devices such as spinning blades and impellers,rocking mechanisms, stir bars, means for pressurized gas infusion can beused to subject microalgal cultures to mixing. Mixing may be continuousor intermittent. For example, in some embodiments, a turbulent flowregime of gas entry and media entry is not maintained for reproductionof microalgae until a desired increase in number of said microalgae hasbeen achieved.

As briefly mentioned above, bioreactors are often equipped with variousports that, for example, allow the gas content of the culture ofmicroalgae to be manipulated. To illustrate, part of the volume of abioreactor can be gas rather than liquid, and the gas inlets of thebioreactor to allow pumping of gases into the bioreactor. Gases that canbe beneficially pumped into a bioreactor include air, air/CO₂ mixtures,noble gases, such as argon, and other gases. Bioreactors are typicallyequipped to enable the user to control the rate of entry of a gas intothe bioreactor. As noted above, increasing gas flow into a bioreactorcan be used to increase mixing of the culture.

Increased gas flow affects the turbidity of the culture as well.Turbulence can be achieved by placing a gas entry port below the levelof the aqueous culture media so that gas entering the bioreactor bubblesto the surface of the culture. One or more gas exit ports allow gas toescape, thereby preventing pressure buildup in the bioreactor.Preferably a gas exit port leads to a “one-way” valve that preventscontaminating microorganisms from entering the bioreactor.

The specific examples of bioreactors, culture conditions, andheterotrophic growth and propagation methods described herein can becombined in any suitable manner to improve efficiencies of microbialgrowth and lipid and/or protein production.

D. Concentration of Microalgae After Fermentation

Microalgal cultures generated according to the methods described aboveyield microalgal biomass in fermentation media. To prepare the biomassfor use as a cosmetic composition, the biomass is concentrated, orharvested, from the fermentation medium. At the point of harvesting themicroalgal biomass from the fermentation medium, the biomass comprisespredominantly intact cells suspended in an aqueous culture medium. Toconcentrate the biomass, a dewatering step is performed. Dewatering orconcentrating refers to the separation of the biomass from fermentationbroth or other liquid medium and so is solid-liquid separation. Thus,during dewatering, the culture medium is removed from the biomass (forexample, by draining the fermentation broth through a filter thatretains the biomass), or the biomass is otherwise removed from theculture medium. Common processes for dewatering include centrifugation,filtration, and the use of mechanical pressure. These processes can beused individually or in any combination.

Centrifugation involves the use of centrifugal force to separatemixtures. During centrifugation, the more dense components of themixture migrate away from the axis of the centrifuge, while the lessdense components of the mixture migrate towards the axis. By increasingthe effective gravitational force (i.e., by increasing thecentrifugation speed), more dense material, such as solids, separatefrom the less dense material, such as liquids, and so separate outaccording to density. Centrifugation of biomass and broth or otheraqueous solution forms a concentrated paste comprising the microalgalcells. Centrifugation does not remove significant amounts ofintracellular water. In fact, after centrifugation, there may still be asubstantial amount of surface or free moisture in the biomass (e.g.,upwards of 70%), so centrifugation is not considered to be a dryingstep.

Filtration can also be used for dewatering. One example of filtrationthat is suitable for the present invention is tangential flow filtration(TFF), also known as cross-flow filtration. Tangential flow filtrationis a separation technique that uses membrane systems and flow force toseparate solids from liquids. For an illustrative suitable filtrationmethod, see Geresh, Carb. Polym. 50; 183-189 (2002), which describes theuse of a MaxCell A/G Technologies 0.45 uM hollow fiber filter. Also see,for example, Millipore Pellicon® devices, used with 100 kD, 300 kD, 1000kD (catalog number P2C01MC01), 0.1 uM (catalog number P2VVPPV01), 0.22uM (catalog number P2GVPPV01), and 0.45 uM membranes (catalog numberP2HVMPV01). The retentate preferably does not pass through the filter ata significant level, and the product in the retentate preferably doesnot adhere to the filter material. TFF can also be performed usinghollow fiber filtration systems. Filters with a pore size of at leastabout 0.1 micrometer, for example about 0.12, 0.14, 0.16, 0.18, 0.2,0.22, 0.45, or at least about 0.65 micrometers, are suitable. Preferredpore sizes of TFF allow solutes and debris in the fermentation broth toflow through, but not microbial cells.

Dewatering can also be affected with mechanical pressure directlyapplied to the biomass to separate the liquid fermentation broth fromthe microbial biomass sufficient to dewater the biomass but not to causepredominant lysis of cells. Mechanical pressure to dewater microbialbiomass can be applied using, for example, a belt filter press. A beltfilter press is a dewatering device that applies mechanical pressure toa slurry (e.g., microbial biomass taken directly from the fermentor orbioreactor) that is passed between the two tensioned belts through aserpentine of decreasing diameter rolls. The belt filter press canactually be divided into three zones: the gravity zone, where freedraining water/liquid is drained by gravity through a porous belt; awedge zone, where the solids are prepared for pressure application; anda pressure zone, where adjustable pressure is applied to the gravitydrained solids.

After concentration, microalgal biomass can be processed, as describedhereinbelow, to produce vacuum-packed cake, algal flakes, algalhomogenate, algal powder, algal flour, or algal oil.

E. Chemical Composition of Microalgal Biomass

The microalgal biomass generated by the culture methods described hereincomprises microalgal oil and/or protein as well as other constituentsgenerated by the microorganisms or incorporated by the microorganismsfrom the culture medium during fermentation.

Microalgal biomass with a high percentage of oil/lipid accumulation bydry weight has been generated using different methods of culture,including methods known in the art. Microalgal biomass with a higherpercentage of accumulated oil/lipid is useful in accordance with thepresent invention. Chlorella vulgaris cultures with up to 56.6% lipid bydry cell weight (DCW) in stationary cultures grown under autotrophicconditions using high iron (Fe) concentrations have been described (Liet al., Bioresource Technology 99(11):4717-22 (2008). Nanochloropsis sp.and Chaetoceros calcitrans cultures with 60% lipid by DCW and 39.8%lipid by DCW, respectively, grown in a photobioreactor under nitrogenstarvation conditions have also been described (Rodolfi et al.,Biotechnology & Bioengineering (2008)). Parietochloris incise cultureswith approximately 30% lipid by DCW when grown phototropically and underlow nitrogen condtions have been described (Solovchenko et al., Journalof Applied Phycology 20:245-251 (2008). Chlorella protothecoides canproduce up to 55% lipid by DCW when grown under certain heterotrophicconditions with nitrogen starvation (Miao and Wu, Bioresource Technology97:841-846 (2006)). Other Chlorella species, including Chlorellaemersonii, Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella minutissima have beendescribed to have accumulated up to 63% oil by DCW when grown in stirredtank bioreactors under low-nitrogen media conditions (Illman et al.,Enzyme and Microbial Technology 27:631-635 (2000). Still higher percentlipid by DCW has been reported, including 70% lipid in Dumaliellatertiolecta cultures grown in increased NaCl conditions (Takagi et al.,Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering 101(3): 223-226 (2006)) and 75%lipid in Botryococcus braunii cultures (Banerjee et al., CriticalReviews in Biotechnology 22(3): 245-279 (2002)).

Heterotrophic growth results in relatively low chlorophyll content (ascompared to phototrophic systems such as open ponds or closedphotobioreactor systems). The reduced chlorophyll content found inheterotrophically grown microalgae (e.g., Chlorella) also reduces thegreen color in the biomass as compared to phototrophically grownmicroalgae. Thus, the reduced chlorophyll content avoids an oftenundesired green coloring associated with cosmetic products containingphototrophically grown microalgae and allows for the incorporation or anincreased incorporation of algal biomass into a cosmetic product. In atleast one embodiment, the cosmetic product contains heterotrophicallygrown microalgae of reduced chlorophyll content compared tophototrophically grown microalgae.

Oil rich microalgal biomass generated by the culture methods describedherein and useful in accordance with the present invention comprises atleast 10% microalgal oil by DCW. In some embodiments, the microalgalbiomass comprises at least 15%, 25%, 50%, 75% or at least 90% microalgaloil by DCW.

The microalgal oil of the biomass described herein (or extracted fromthe biomass) can comprise glycerolipids with one or more distinct fattyacid ester side chains Glycerolipids are comprised of a glycerolmolecule esterified to one, two, or three fatty acid molecules, whichcan be of varying lengths and have varying degrees of saturation.Specific blends of algal oil can be prepared either within a singlespecies of algae, or by mixing together the biomass (or algal oil) fromtwo or more species of microalgae.

Thus, the oil composition, i.e., the properties and proportions of thefatty acid constituents of the glycerolipids, can also be manipulated bycombining biomass (or oil) from at least two distinct species ofmicroalgae. In some embodiments, at least two of the distinct species ofmicroalgae have different glycerolipid profiles. The distinct species ofmicroalgae can be cultured together or separately as described herein,preferably under heterotrophic conditions, to generate the respectiveoils. Different species of microalgae can contain different percentagesof distinct fatty acid constituents in the cell's glycerolipids.

In some embodiments, the microalgal oil is primarily comprised ofmonounsaturated oil. In some cases, the algal oil is at least 20%monounsaturated oil by weight. In various embodiments, the algal oil isat least 25%, 50%, 75% or more monounsaturated oil by weight or byvolume. In some embodiments, the monounsaturated oil is 18:1, 16:1, 14:1or 12:1. In some embodiments, the microalgal oil comprises at least 10%,20%, 25%, or 50% or more esterified oleic acid or esterifiedalpha-linolenic acid by weight of by volume. In at least one embodiment,the algal oil comprises less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 3%, lessthan 2%, or less than 1% by weight or by volume, or is substantiallyfree of, esterified docosahexanoic acid (DHA (22:6)). For examples ofproduction of high DHA-containing microalgae, such as in Crypthecodiniumcohnii, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,252,979, 6,812,009 and 6,372,460.

High protein microalgal biomass has been generated using differentmethods of culture. Microalgal biomass with a higher percentage ofprotein content is useful in accordance with the present invention. Forexample, the protein content of various species of microalgae has beenreported (see Table 1 of Becker, Biotechnology Advances (2007)25:207-210). Controlling the renewal rate in a semi-continousphotoautotrophic culture of Tetraselmis suecica has been reported toaffect the protein content per cell, the highest being approximately22.8% protein (Fabregas, et al., Marine Biotechnology (2001) 3:256-263).

Microalgal biomass generated by culture methods described herein anduseful in accordance to those embodiments of the present inventionrelating to high protein typically comprises at least 30% protein by drycell weight. In some embodiments, the microalgal biomass comprises atleast 40%, 50%, 75% or more protein by dry cell weight. In someembodiments, the microalgal biomass comprises from 30-75% protein by drycell weight or from 40-60% protein by dry cell weight. In someembodiments, the protein in the microalgal biomass comprises at least40% digestible crude protein. In other embodiments, the protein in themicroalgal biomass comprises at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or at least90% digestible crude protein. In some embodiments, the protein in themicroalgal biomass comprises from 40-90% digestible crude protein, from50-80% digestible crude protein, or from 60-75% digestible crudeprotein.

Microalgal biomass (and oil extracted therefrom), can also include otherconstituents produced by the microalgae, or incorporated into thebiomass from the culture medium. These other constituents can be presentin varying amounts depending on the culture conditions used and thespecies of microalgae (and, if applicable, the extraction method used torecover microalgal oil from the biomass). The other constituents caninclude, without limitation, phospholipids (e.g., algal lecithin),carbohydrates, soluble and insoluble fiber, glycoproteins, phytosterols(e.g., β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol, andbrassicasterol), tocopherols, tocotrienols, carotenoids (e.g.,α-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene), xanthophylls (e.g., lutein,zeaxanthin, α-cryptoxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin), proteins,polysaccharides (e.g., arabinose, mannose, galactose, 6-methyl galactoseand glucose) and various organic or inorganic compounds (e.g.,selenium).

In some cases, the biomass comprises at least 10 ppm selenium. In somecases, the biomass comprises at least 25% w/w algal polysaccharide. Insome cases, the biomass comprises at least 15% w/w algal glycoprotein.In some cases, the biomass comprises between 0-115 mcg/g totalcarotenoids. In some cases, the biomass comprises at least 0.5% algalphospholipids. In some cases, the oil derived from the algal biomasscontains at least 0.10 mg/g total tocotrienols. In some cases, the oilderived from the algal biomass contains between 0.125 mg/g to 0.35 mg/gtotal tocotrienols. In some cases, the oil derived from the algalbiomass contains at least 5.0 mg/100 g total tocopherols. In some cases,the oil derived from the algal biomass contains between 5.0 mg/100 g to10 mg/100 g tocopherols. A detailed description of tocotrienols andtocopherols composition in Chlorella protothecoides is included in theExamples below.

III. Processing Microalgal Biomass into Finished Cosmetic Ingredients

The concentrated microalgal biomass produced in accordance with themethods of the invention is itself a finished cosmetic ingredient andmay be used in cosmetics without further, or with only minimal,modification. For example, the cake can be vacuum-packed or frozen.Alternatively, the biomass may be dried via lyophilization, a“freeze-drying” process, in which the biomass is frozen in afreeze-drying chamber to which a vacuum is applied. The application of avacuum to the freeze-drying chamber results in sublimation (primarydrying) and desorption (secondary drying) of the water from the biomass.However, the present invention provides a variety of microalgal derivedfinished cosmetic ingredients with enhanced properties resulting fromprocessing methods of the invention that can be applied to theconcentrated microalgal biomass.

Drying the microalgal biomass, either predominantly intact or inhomogenate form, is advantageous to facilitate further processing or foruse of the biomass in the methods and compositions described herein.Drying refers to the removal of free or surface moisture/water frompredominantly intact biomass or the removal of surface water from aslurry of homogenized (e.g., by micronization) biomass. Differenttextures and dispersion properties can be conferred on cosmetic productsdepending on whether the algal biomass is dried, and if so, the dryingmethod. Drying the biomass generated from the cultured microalgaedescribed herein removes water that may be an undesirable component offinished cosmetic products or cosmetic ingredients. In some cases,drying the biomass may facilitate a more efficient microalgal oilextraction process.

In one embodiment, the concentrated microalgal biomass is drum dried toa flake form to produce algal flake, as described in part A of thissection. In another embodiment, the concentrated micralgal biomass isspray or flash dried (i.e., subjected to a pneumatic drying process) toform a powder containing predominantly intact cells to produce algalpowder, as described in part B of this section. In another embodiment,oil is extracted from the concentrated microalgal biomass to form algaloil, as described in part C of this section.

A. Algal Flake

Algal flake of the invention is prepared from concentrated microalgalbiomass that is applied as a film to the surface of a rolling, heateddrum. The dried solids are then scraped off with a knife or blade,resulting in a small flakes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,900 describes dryingmicroalgal biomass using a drum dryer without a prior centrifugation(concentration) step, and such a process may be used in accordance withthe methods of the invention.

Because the biomass may be exposed to high heat during the dryingprocess, it may be advantageous to add an antioxidant to the biomassprior to drying. The addition of an antioxidant will not only protectthe biomass during drying, but also extend the shelf-life of the driedmicroalgal biomass when stored. In a preferred embodiment, anantioxidant is added to the microalgal biomass prior to subsequentprocessing such as drying or homogenization. Antioxidants that aresuitable for use are discussed in detail below.

Additionally, if there is significant time between the production of thedewatered microalgal biomass and subsequent processing steps, it may beadvantageous to pasteurize the biomass prior to drying. Free fatty acidsfrom lipases may form if there is significant time between producing anddrying the biomass. In one embodiment, the pasteurized microalgalbiomass is an algal flake.

B. Algal Powder

Algal powder of the invention is prepared from concentrated microalgalbiomass using a pneumatic or spray dryer (see for example U.S. Pat. No.6,372,460). In a spray dryer, material in a liquid suspension is sprayedin a fine droplet dispersion into a current of heated air. The entrainedmaterial is rapidly dried and forms a dry powder. In some cases, a pulsecombustion dryer can also be used to achieve a powdery texture in thefinal dried material. In other cases, a combination of spray dryingfollowed by the use of a fluid bed dryer is used to achieve the optimalconditions for dried microbial biomass (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No.6,255,505). As an alternative, pneumatic dryers can also be used in theproduction of algal powder. Pneumatic dryers draw or entrain thematerial that is to be dried in a stream of hot air. While the materialis entrained in the hot air, the moisture is rapidly removed. The driedmaterial is then separated from the moist air and the moist air is thenrecirculated for further drying.

C. Algal Flour

Algal flour of the invention is prepared from concentrated microalgalbiomass that has been mechanically lysed and homogenized and thehomogenate spray or flash dried (or dried using another pneumatic dryingsystem). The production of algal flour requires that cells be lysed torelease their oil and that cell wall and intracellular components bemicronized or reduced in particle size to an average size of no morethan 10 μm. The resulting oil, water, and micronized particles areemulsified such that the oil does not separate from the dispersion priorto drying. For example, a pressure disrupter can be used to pump a cellcontaining slurry through a restricted orifice valve to lyse the cells.High pressure (up to 1500 bar) is applied, followed by an instantexpansion through an exiting nozzle. Cell disruption is accomplished bythree different mechanisms: impingement on the valve, high liquid shearin the orifice, and sudden pressure drop upon discharge, causing anexplosion of the cell. The method releases intracellular molecules. ANiro (Niro Soavi GEA) homogenizer (or any other high pressurehomogenizer) can be used to process cells to particles predominantly 0.2to 5 microns in length. Processing of algal biomass under high pressure(approximately 1000 bar) typically lyses over 90% of the cells andreduces particle size to less than 5 microns.

Alternatively, a ball mill can be used. In a ball mill, cells areagitated in suspension with small abrasive particles, such as beads.Cells break because of shear forces, grinding between beads, andcollisions with beads. The beads disrupt the cells to release cellularcontents. In one embodiment, algal biomass is disrupted and formed intoa stable emulsion using a Dyno-mill ECM Ultra (CB Mills) ball mill Cellscan also be disrupted by shear forces, such as with the use of blending(such as with a high speed or Waring blender as examples), the frenchpress, or even centrifugation in case of weak cell walls, to disruptcells. A suitable ball mill including specifics of ball size and bladeis described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,913.

The immediate product of homogenization is a slurry of particles smallerin size than the original cells that is suspended in in oil and water.The particles represent cellular debris. The oil and water are releasedby the cells. Additional water may be contributed by aqueous mediacontaining the cells before homogenization. The particles are preferablyin the form of a micronized homogenate. If left to stand, some of thesmaller particles may coalesce. However, an even dispersion of smallparticles can be preserved by seeding with a microcrystallinestabilizer, such as microcrystalline cellulose.

To form the algal flour, the slurry is spray or flash dried, removingwater and leaving a dry power containing cellular debris and oil.Although the oil content of the powder can be at least 10, 25 or 50% byweight of the dry powder, the powder can have a dry rather than greasyfeel and appearance (e.g., lacking visible oil) and can also flow freelywhen shaken. Various flow agents (including silica-derived products) canalso be added. After drying, the water or moisture content of the powderis typically less than 10%, 5%, 3% or 1% by weight. Other dryers such aspneumatic dryers or pulse combustion dryers can also be used to producealgal flour.

The oil content of algal flour can vary depending on the percent oil ofthe algal biomass. Algal flour can be produced from algal biomass ofvarying oil content. In certain embodiments, the algal flour is producedfrom algal biomass of the same oil content. In other embodiments, thealgal flour is produced from alglal biomass of different oil content. Inthe latter case, algal biomass of varying oil content can be combinedand then the homogenization step performed. In other embodiments, algalflour of varying oil content is produced first and then blended togetherin various proportions in order to achieve an algal flour product thatcontains the final desired oil content. In a further embodiment, algalbiomass of different lipid profiles can be combined together and thenhomogenized to produce algal flour. In another embodiment, algal flourof different lipid profiles is produced first and then blended togetherin various proportions in order to achieve an algal flour product thatcontains the final desired lipid profile.

D. Algal Oil

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method ofpreparing algal oil by harvesting algal oil from an algal biomasscomprising at least 15% oil by dry weight under GMP conditions, in whichthe algal oil is greater than 50% 18:1 lipid. In some cases, the algalbiomass comprises a mixture of at least two distinct species ofmicroalgae. In some cases, at least two of the distinct species ofmicroalgae have been separately cultured. In at least one embodiment, atleast two of the distinct species of microalgae have differentglycerolipid profiles. In some cases, the algal biomass is derived fromalgae grown heterotrophically. In some cases, all of the at least twodistinct species of microalgae contain at least 15% oil by dry weight.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of making acosmetic composition comprising combining algal oil obtained from algalcells containing at least 10%, or at least 15% oil by dry weight withone or more other ingredients to form the cosmetic composition. In somecases, the method further comprises preparing the algal oil under GMPconditions.

Algal oil can be separated from lysed biomass for use in cosmeticproducts (among other applications). The algal biomass remaining afteroil extraction is referred to as delipidated meal. Delipidated mealcontains less oil by dry weight or volume than the microalgae containedbefore extraction. Typically 50-90% of oil is extracted so thatdelipidated meal contains, for example, 10-50% of the oil content ofbiomass before extraction. However, the biomass still has a highnutrient value in content of protein and other constituents discussedabove. Thus, the delipidated meal can be used in animal feed or in humanfood applications.

In some embodiments of the method, the algal oil is at least 50% w/woleic acid and contains less than 5% DHA. In some embodiments of themethod, the algal oil is at least 50% w/w oleic acid and contains lessthan 0.5% DHA. In some embodiments of the method, the algal oil is atleast 50% w/w oleic acid and contains less than 5% glycerolipidcontaining carbon chain length greater than 18. In some cases, the algalcells from which the algal oil is obtained comprise a mixture of cellsfrom at least two distinct species of microalgae. In some cases, atleast two of the distinct species of microalgae have been separatelycultured. In at least one embodiment, at least two of the distinctspecies of microalgae have different glycerolipid profiles. In somecases, the algal cells are cultured under heterotrophic conditions. Insome cases, all of the at least two distinct species of microalgaecontain at least 10%, or at least 15% oil by dry weight.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to algal oil containingat least 50% monounsaturated oil and containing less than 1% DHAprepared under GMP conditions. In some cases, the monounsaturated oil is18:1 lipid. In some cases, the algal oil is packaged in a capsule fordelivery of a unit dose of oil. In some cases, the algal oil is derivedfrom a mixture of at least two distinct species of microalgae. In somecases, at least two of the distinct species of microalgae have beenseparately cultured. In at least one embodiment, at least two of thedistinct species of microalgae have different glycerolipid profiles. Insome cases, the algal oil is derived from algal cells cultured underheterotrophic conditions.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to oil comprisinggreater than 60% 18:1, and at least 0.20 mg/g tocotrienol.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a fatty acid alkylester composition comprising greater than 60% 18:1 ester, and at least0.20 mg/g tocotrienol.

Algal oil of the invention is prepared from concentrated, washedmicroalgal biomass by extraction. The cells in the biomass are lysedprior to extraction. Optionally, the microbial biomass may also be dried(oven dried, lyophilized, etc.) prior to lysis (cell disruption).Alternatively, cells can be lysed without separation from some or all ofthe fermentation broth when the fermentation is complete. For example,the cells can be at a ratio of less than 1:1 v:v cells to extracellularliquid when the cells are lysed.

Microalgae containing lipids can be lysed to produce a lysate. Asdetailed herein, the step of lysing a microorganism (also referred to ascell lysis) can be achieved by any convenient means, includingheat-induced lysis, adding a base, adding an acid, using enzymes such asproteases and polysaccharide degradation enzymes such as amylases, usingultrasound, mechanical pressure-based lysis, and lysis using osmoticshock. Each of these methods for lysing a microorganism can be used as asingle method or in combination simultaneously or sequentially. Theextent of cell disruption can be observed by microscopic analysis. Usingone or more of the methods above, typically more than 70% cell breakageis observed. Preferably, cell breakage is more than 80%, more preferablymore than 90% and most preferred about 100%.

Lipids and oils generated by the microalgae in accordance with thepresent invention can be recovered by extraction. In some cases,extraction can be performed using an organic solvent or an oil, or canbe performed using a solventless-extraction procedure.

For organic solvent extraction of the microalgal oil, the preferredorganic solvent is hexane. Typically, the organic solvent is addeddirectly to the lysate without prior separation of the lysatecomponents. In one embodiment, the lysate generated by one or more ofthe methods described above is contacted with an organic solvent for aperiod of time sufficient to allow the lipid components to form asolution with the organic solvent. In some cases, the solution can thenbe further refined to recover specific desired lipid components. Themixture can then be filtered and the hexane removed by, for example,rotoevaporation. Hexane extraction methods are well known in the art.See, e.g., Frenz et al., Enzyme Microb. Technol., 11:717 (1989).

Miao and Wu describe a protocol of the recovery of microalgal lipid froma culture of Chlorella protothecoides in which the cells were harvestedby centrifugation, washed with distilled water and dried by freezedrying. The resulting cell powder was pulverized in a mortar and thenextracted with n-hexane. Miao and Wu, Biosource Technology 97:841-846(2006).

In some cases, microalgal oils can be extracted using liquefaction (seefor example Sawayama et al., Biomass and Bioenergy 17:33-39 (1999) andInoue et al., Biomass Bioenergy 6(4):269-274 (1993)); oil liquefaction(see for example Minowa et al., Fuel 74(12):1735-1738 (1995)); orsupercritical CO₂ extraction (see for example Mendes et al., InorganicaChimica Acta 356:328-334 (2003)).

Oil extraction includes the addition of an oil directly to a lysatewithout prior separation of the lysate components. After addition of theoil, the lysate separates either of its own accord or as a result ofcentrifugation or the like into different layers. The layers can includein order of decreasing density: a pellet of heavy solids, an aqueousphase, an emulsion phase, and an oil phase. The emulsion phase is anemulsion of lipids and aqueous phase. Depending on the percentage of oiladded with respect to the lysate (w/w or v/v), the force ofcentrifugation if any, volume of aqueous media and other factors, eitheror both of the emulsion and oil phases can be present. Incubation ortreatment of the cell lysate or the emulsion phase with the oil isperformed for a time sufficient to allow the lipid produced by themicroorganism to become solubilized in the oil to form a heterogeneousmixture.

In various embodiments, the oil used in the extraction process isselected from the group consisting of oil from soy, rapeseed, canola,palm, palm kernel, coconut, corn, waste vegetable oil, Chinese tallow,olive, sunflower, cotton seed, chicken fat, beef tallow, porcine tallow,microalgae, macroalgae, Cuphea, flax, peanut, choice white grease(lard), Camelina sativa mustard seedcashew nut, oats, lupine, kenaf,calendula, hemp, coffee, linseed, hazelnut, euphorbia, pumpkin seed,coriander, camellia, sesame, safflower, rice, tung oil tree, cocoa,copra, pium poppy, castor beans, pecan, jojoba, jatropha, macadamia,Brazil nuts, and avocado. The amount of oil added to the lysate istypically greater than 5% (measured by v/v and/or w/w) of the lysatewith which the oil is being combined. Thus, a preferred v/v or w/w ofthe oil is greater than 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 50%, 70%, 90%, or at least95% of the cell lysate.

Lipids can also be extracted from a lysate via a solventless extractionprocedure without substantial or any use of organic solvents or oils bycooling the lysate. Sonication can also be used, particularly if thetemperature is between room temperature and 65° C. Such a lysate oncentrifugation or settling can be separated into layers, one of which isan aqueous:lipid layer. Other layers can include a solid pellet, anaqueous layer, and a lipid layer. Lipid can be extracted from theemulsion layer by freeze thawing or otherwise cooling the emulsion. Insuch methods, it is not necessary to add any organic solvent or oil. Ifany solvent or oil is added, it can be below 5% v/v or w/w of thelysate.

IV. Combining Microalgal Biomass or Materials Derived Therefrom withother Cosmetic Ingredients

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to methods of combiningmicroalgal biomass and/or microalgal oil, as described above, with atleast one other cosmetic ingredient, as described below, to form acosmetic composition.

In some cases, the cosmetic composition formed by the combination ofmicroalgal biomass and/or microalgal oil comprises at least 1%, at least5%, at least 10%, at least 25%, or at least 50% w/w microalgal biomassor microalgal oil, respectively. In some embodiments, cosmeticcompositions formed as described herein comprise at least 2%, at least3%, at least 4%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 35%,at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, atleast 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or atleast 95% w/w microalgal biomass or microalgal oil.

In some cases, the cosmetic composition comprises predominantly intactmicroalgal cells. In some cases, the cosmetic composition comprises atleast 50% intact cells, or at least 60%, at least 70%, or at least 80%intact cells. In other embodiments, the cosmetic composition comprisesmicroalgal biomass that has been homogenized to form a whole celldispersion.

A. Substitution of Algal Biomass and Algal Oil in Cosmetic Products

In some cases, microalgal biomass can be substituted for othercomponents that would otherwise be conventionally included in a cosmeticproduct. In at least one embodiment, the cosmetic composition formed bythe methods of the invention is free of oil other than microalgal oilcontributed by the microalgal biomass and entrapped therein.

In various embodiments, microalgal biomass can be substituted for all ora portion of conventional cosmetic ingredients such as exfoliants,antioxidants, colorants, and the like, to the extent that the componentsof the microalgal biomass replace the corresponding conventionalcomponents in like kind, or adequately substitute for the conventionalcomponents to impart the desired characteristics to the cosmeticcomposition.

In some cases, microalgal oil can be substituted for oils conventionallyused in cosmetic compositions. As described herein, oils produced bymicroalgae can be tailored by culture conditions or lipid pathwayengineering to comprise particular fatty acid components. Thus, the oilsgenerated by the microalgae of the present invention can be used toreplace conventional cosmetic ingredients such as essential oils,fragrance oils, and the like. In at least one embodiment, the cosmeticcomposition formed by the methods of the present invention is free ofoil other than microalgal oil.

B. Other Cosmetic Ingredients

Microalgal biomass and microalgal oil are combined with at least oneother cosmetic ingredients in methods of the present invention to formcosmetic compositions. The at least one other cosmetic ingredient can beselected from conventional cosmetic ingredients suitable for use withthe microalgal biomass or microalgal oil with regard to the intended useof the composition. Such other cosmetic ingredients include, withoutlimitation, absorbents, abrasives, anticaking agents, antifoamingagents, antibacterial agents, binders, biological additives, bufferingagents, bulking agents, chemical additives, cosmetic biocides,denaturants, cosmetic astringents, drug astringents, externalanalgesics, film formers, humectants, opacifying agents, fragrances andflavor oils, pigments, colorings, essential oils, skin sensates,emollients, skin soothing agents, skin healing agents, pH adjusters,plasticizers, preservatives, preservative enhancers, propellants,reducing agents, skin-conditioning agents, skin penetration enhancingagents, skin protectants, solvents, suspending agents, emulsifiers,thickening agents, solubilizing agents, soaps, sunscreens, sunblocks,ultraviolet light absorbers or scattering agents, sunless tanningagents, antioxidants and/or radical scavengers, chelating agents,sequestrants, anti-acne agents, anti-inflammatory agents,anti-androgens, depilation agents, desquamation agents/exfoliants,organic hydroxy acids, vitamins, vitamin derivatives, and naturalextracts.

Microalgal biomass and microalgal oil can also be combined withpolysaccharides, including polysaccharides from microalgae. Examples ofsuch polysaccharides can be found, for example, in PCT/US2007/001653“Microalgae-derived Compositions for Improving the Health and Appearanceof Skin”, including beads of partially soluble polysaccharides.

Essential oils include allspice, amyris, angelica root, anise seed,basil, bay, bergamot, black pepper, cajeput, camphor, cananga, cardamom,carrot seed, cassia, catnip, cedarwood, chamomile, cinnamon bark,cinnamon leaf, citronella java, clary sage, clovebud, coriander,cornmint, cypress, davana, dill seed, elemi, eucalyptus, fennel, fir,frankincense, geranium bourbon, geranium roast, geranium, ginger,grapefruit pink, grapefruit, gurjum balsam, hyssop, juniper berry,lavandin, lavandula, lavender, lemon myrtle, lemon tea tree, lemon,lemongrass, lime, litsea cubeba, mandarin, marjoram, mullein, myrrh,neroli, nerolina, niaouli, nutmeg, orange, palmarosa, patchouli,peppermint, petitgrain, pine needle, ravensara, ravintsara, rosalina,rose, rosemary, rosewood, sage, sandalwood, spearmint, spikenard, staranise, tangerine, tea tree, thyme, tulsi, verbena, vetiver, ylang ylang,and zdravetz, or combinations thereof.

Fragrances and flavor oils include absolute tulip, almond, amaretto,amber, anais, apple, apple cinnamon, apple spice, apricot, apricotcrème, arabian musk, asian pear, asian plum blossom, autumn woods,banana, basil, basil nectarine, bay rum, bayberry, bergamot, berries andcream, birthday cake, black cherry, black tea, blackberry tea,blackcurrent, blue nile, blueberry delight, brambleberry preserves,brown sugar, bubble gum, buttercream, butterscotch, calla lily,cantaloupe, caramel apple, carnation, carrot cake, chai tea, chamomile,china musk, china rain, chinese peony, chrysanthemum, cinnamon, coconut,coconut cream, cotton candy, cranberry, cucumber, cucumber melon,daffodil, dandelion, delphinium, dewberry, dulce de leche, earl greytea, easter cookie, egg nog, eqyptian musk, enchanted forest, englishlavender, english pear, evergreen, fig, frangipani, frankincense, frenchvanilla, fresh apple, fresh brewed coffee, fruit punch, gardenia,geranium, ginger lily, gingerbread, grape, grapefruit, green apple,green grass, green tea, guava, guava flower, hawaiian white ginger,heliotrope, hemp, herbaceous, holiday fruitcake, hollyberry, honeyginger, honey, honeysuckle, jasmine, jasmine tea, juniper berries, kiwi,lavender, leather, lemon, lemon parsley, lilac, lime, loganberry, lotusblossom, magnolia, mandarin, mango, mango and kiwi, maple, milkchocolate, mimosa, minty lime, mulberry, myrrh, neroli, oakmoss,oatmeal, ocean rain, orange blossom, orange sherbet, orange vanilla,papaya, passion fruit, patchouli, peach, peaches and cream, pearberry,peppermint, pikaki, pina colada, pineapple, pomegranate, pumpkin pie,raisins and almonds, raspberry, roasted nuts, rosewood, sage,sandalwood, sassafras, sea moss, sesame, siberian pine, snowberry,spanish moss, spice, strawberry, sugar plum, suntan lotion, sweet clove,sweet grass, sweet pea, tangerine, thai coconut, timber, tomato leaf,vanilla, watermelon, white chocolate, wild cherry, wisteria, witchesbrew, and ylang ylang, or combinations thereof.

Exfoliants include particles that can be used to dislodge dead skincells, dirt, or other materials from the surface of the skin, andinclude without limitation, fruit seeds and fibers, grain powders, nutand seed meals, and oil or wax beads. Fruit fibers include blueberry,cranberry, grape, kiwi, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, and the like.Grain powders include oat powder, and almond powder, or the like, milledto varying degrees of coarseness. Polymer beads, such as those made frompolyethylene, or the like, can also be used. The removal of dead skincells and/or the outer most layer of skin can provide an opportunity forbioactive agents, such as carotenoids, which can also be present in thecompositions of the invention, to have greater access to deeper layersof the skin.

Extracts, including CO₂ extracts, include herbal extracts derived fromconventional extraction procedure, or via the use of liquefied carbondioxide. Herbs include aloe vera leaf, alfalfa leaf, alkanet root,annatto seed, arrowroot, burdock root, calendula petals, carrot root,chamomile flower, comfrey leaf, cornsilk, dutch blue poppies, fennelseed, ginger root, ginseng, green tea leaf, jasmine flower, juniperberries, lavender buds, lemon peel, lemongrass, marshmallow root,nettles, oat straw, orange peel, paprika, parsley, peppermint leaf, rosebuds, rose petals, rosehip, rosemary leaf, shavegrass, spearmint leaf,and st. john's wort, or combinations thereof.

Colorings, including glitters, include green #5, green #8, orange #4,red #22, red #33, violet #2, blue #1, green #3, red #40, yellow #5,yellow #6, green #6, red #17, as well as pearlescent micas and tintingherbs such as henna leaf, sandalwood, turmeric, cranberry, kiwi,raspberry, alkanet, annatto, carrot root, nettles, paprika, and parsley.

Specific examples of other cosmetic ingredients are described below. Anyone or more of these can be optionally combined with microalgal biomassor microalgal oil in accordance with the present invention to form acosmetic composition. The active ingredients described below arecategorized by their cosmetic and/or therapeutic benefit or theirpostulated mode of action. However, it is to be understood that theseingredients can in some instances provide more than one cosmetic and/ortherapeutic benefit or operate via more than one mode of action.Therefore, classifications herein are made for the sake of convenienceand are not intended to limit the ingredient to that particularapplication or applications listed.

A safe and effective amount of an anti-inflammatory agent can optionallybe added to the compositions of the present invention, preferably fromabout 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.5% to about 5%, ofthe composition. The anti-inflammatory agent enhances the skinappearance benefits of the present invention, e.g., such agentscontribute to a more uniform and acceptable skin tone or color. Theexact amount of anti-inflammatory agent to be used in the compositionswill depend on the particular anti-inflammatory agent utilized sincesuch agents vary widely in potency.

Steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, including but not limited to,corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone, hydroxyltriamcinolone,alpha-methyl dexamethasone, dexamethasone-phosphate, beclomethasonedipropionates, clobetasol valerate, desonide, desoxymethasone,desoxycorticosterone acetate, dexamethasone, dichlorisone, diflorasonediacetate, diflucortolone valerate, fluadrenolone, flucloroloneacetonide, fludrocortisone, flumethasone pivalate, fluosinoloneacetonide, fluocinonide, flucortine butylesters, fluocortolone,fluprednidene (fluprednylidene) acetate, flurandrenolone, halcinonide,hydrocortisone acetate, hydrocortisone butyrate, methylprednisolone,triamcinolone acetonide, cortisone, cortodoxone, flucetonide,fludrocortisone, difluorosone diacetate, fluradrenolone,fludrocortisone, diflurosone diacetate, fluradrenolone acetonide,medrysone, amcinafel, amcinafide, betamethasone and the balance of itsesters, chloroprednisone, chlorprednisone acetate, clocortelone,clescinolone, dichlorisone, diflurprednate, flucloronide, flunisolide,fluoromethalone, fluperolone, fluprednisolone, hydrocortisone valerate,hydrocortisone cyclopentylpropionate, hydrocortamate, meprednisone,paramethasone, prednisolone, prednisone, beclomethasone dipropionate,triamcinolone, and mixtures thereof may be used. The preferred steroidalanti-inflammatory for use is hydrocortisone.

A second class of anti-inflammatory agents which is useful in thecompositions includes the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Thevariety of compounds encompassed by this group are well-known to thoseskilled in the art. For detailed disclosure of the chemical structure,synthesis, side effects, etc. of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents,reference may be had to standard texts, including Anti-inflammatory andAnti-Rheumatic Drugs, K. D. Rainsford, Vol. I-III, CRC Press, BocaRaton, (1985), and Anti-inflammatory Agents, Chemistry and Pharmacology,1, R. A. Scherrer, et al., Academic Press, New York (1974), eachincorporated herein by reference.

Specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents useful in accordancewith the present invention include, but are not limited to: 1) theoxicams, such as piroxicam, isoxicam, tenoxicam, sudoxicam, andCP-14,304; 2) the salicylates, such as aspirin, disalcid, benorylate,trilisate, safapryn, solprin, diflunisal, and fendosal; 3) the aceticacid derivatives, such as diclofenac, fenclofenac, indomethacin,sulindac, tolmetin, isoxepac, furofenac, tiopinac, zidometacin,acematacin, fentiazac, zomepirac, clindanac, oxepinac, felbinac, andketorolac; 4) the fenamates, such as mefenamic, meclofenamic,flufenamic, niflumic, and tolfenamic acids; 5) the propionic acidderivatives, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, benoxaprofen, flurbiprofen,ketoprofen, fenoprofen, fenbufen, indopropfen, pirprofen, carprofen,oxaprozin, pranoprofen, miroprofen, tioxaprofen, suprofen, alminoprofen,and tiaprofenic; and 6) the pyrazoles, such as phenylbutazone,oxyphenbutazone, feprazone, azapropazone, and trimethazone.

Mixtures of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents may also beemployed, as well as the dermatologically acceptable salts and esters ofthese agents. For example, etofenamate, a flufenamic acid derivative, isparticularly useful for topical application. Of the nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory agents, ibuprofen, naproxen, flufenamic acid,etofenamate, aspirin, mefenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, piroxicam andfelbinac are preferred; ibuprofen, naproxen, etofenamate, aspirin andflufenamic acid are most preferred.

Finally, so-called “natural” anti-inflammatory agents are useful inmethods of the present invention. Such agents may suitably be obtainedas an extract by suitable physical and/or chemical isolation fromnatural sources (e.g., plants, fungi, or by-products of microorganisms).For example, candelilla wax, alpha bisabolol, aloe vera, Manjistha(extracted from plants in the genus Rubia, particularly RubiaCordifolia), and Guggal (extracted from plants in the genus Commiphora,particularly Commiphora Mukul), kola extract, chamomile, and sea whipextract, may be used.

Additional anti-inflammatory agents useful herein include compounds ofthe Licorice (the plant genus/species Glycyrrhiza glabra) family,including glycyrrhetic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, and derivatives thereof(e.g., salts and esters). Suitable salts of the foregoing compoundsinclude metal and ammonium salts. Suitable esters include C₂-C₂₄saturated or unsaturated esters of the acids, preferably C₁₀-C₂₄, morepreferably C₁₆-C₂₄. Specific examples of the foregoing include oilsoluble licorice extract, the glycyrrhizic and glycyrrhetic acidsthemselves, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, monopotassium glycyrrhizinate,dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, 1-beta-glycyrrhetic acid, stearylglycyrrhetinate, and 3-stearyloxy-glycyrrhetinic acid, and disodium3-succinyloxy-beta-glycyrrhetinate. Stearyl glycyrrhetinate ispreferred.

In some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention alsooptionally contain a retinoid. The vitamin B₃ compound and retinoidprovide unexpected benefits in regulating skin condition, especially intherapeutically regulating signs of skin aging, more especiallywrinkles, lines, and pores. Without intending to be bound or otherwiselimited by theory, it is believed that the vitamin B₃ compound increasesthe conversion of certain retinoids to trans-retinoic acid, which isbelieved to be the biologically active form of the retinoid, to providesynergistic regulation of skin condition (namely, increased conversionfor retinol, retinol esters, and retinal). In addition, the vitamin B₃compound unexpectedly mitigates redness, inflammation, dermatitis andthe like which may otherwise be associated with topical application ofretinoid (often referred to, and hereinafter alternatively referred toas “retinoid dermatitis”). Furthermore, the combined vitamin B₃ compoundand retinoid tend to increase the amount and activity of thioredoxin,which tends to increase collagen expression levels via the protein AP-1.Therefore, compositions of the present invention enable reduced activelevels, and therefore reduced potential for retinoid dermatitis, whileretaining significant positive skin conditioning benefits. In addition,higher levels of retinoid may still be used to obtain greater skinconditioning efficacy, without undesirable retinoid dermatitisoccurring.

As used herein, “retinoid” includes all natural and/or synthetic analogsof Vitamin A or retinol-like compounds which possess the biologicalactivity of Vitamin A in the skin as well as the geometric isomers andstereoisomers of these compounds. The retinoid is preferably retinol,retinol esters (e.g., C₂-C₂₂ alkyl esters of retinol, including retinylpalmitate, retinyl acetate, retinyl proprionate), retinal, and/orretinoic acid (including all-trans retinoic acid and/or 13-cis-retinoicacid), more preferably retinoids other than retinoic acid. Thesecompounds are well known in the art and are commercially available froma number of sources, e.g., Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.).

The cosmetic compositions of this invention may contain a safe andeffective amount of the retinoid, such that the resultant composition issafe and effective for regulating skin condition, preferably forregulating visible and/or tactile discontinuities in skin, morepreferably for regulating signs of skin aging, even more preferably forregulating visible and/or tactile discontinuities in skin textureassociated with skin aging. The compositions preferably contain from orabout 0.005% to or about 2%, more preferably 0.01% to or about 2%,retinoid. Retinol is most preferably used in an amount of from or about0.01% to or about 0.15%; retinol esters are most preferably used in anamount of from or about 0.01% to or about 2% (e.g., about 1%); retinoicacids are most preferably used in an amount of from or about 0.01% to orabout 0.25%. The retinoid may be included as the substantially purematerial, or as an extract obtained by suitable physical and/or chemicalisolation from natural (e.g., plant) sources. The retinoid is preferablysubstantially pure.

In some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention alsooptionally contain an antibacterial agent. As used herein,“antibacterial agent” means a compound capable of destroying bacteriacells, preventing the development of bacteria or preventing thepathogenic action of bacteria. Antibacterial agents are useful, forexample, in controlling acne. A safe and effective amount of anantibacterial agent can optionally be added to cosmetic compositions ofthe subject invention, preferably from about 0.001% to about 10%, morepreferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, also from about 0.05% to about2% or from about 0.05% to about 1% of the compositions. Preferredantibacterial agents useful in the cosmetic compositions of theinvention are benzoyl peroxide, erythromycin, tetracycline, clindamycin,azelaic acid, and sulfur resorcinol.

In some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention alsooptionally contain an antiandrogen. As used herein, “anti-androgen”means a compound capable of correcting androgen-related disorders byinterfering with the action of androgens at their target organs. Thetarget organ for the cosmetic compositions of the present invention ismammalian skin. Exemplary antiandrogens include pregnenalone (and itsderivatives), hops extract, oxygenated alkyl substituted bicyclo alkanes(e.g., ethoxyhexyl-bicyclo octanones such as marketed by ChantalPharmaceutical of Los Angeles, Calif. under the trade names ETHOCYN andCYOCTOL, and 2-(5-ethoxy hept-1-yl)bicylo[3.3.0]octanone), and oleanolicacid. Suitable antiandrogens are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,345and 4,855,322, both issued to Kasha et al. on Aug. 25, 1987 and Aug. 8,1989, respectively, each incorporated herein by reference. Antiandrogenscan optionally be added to cosmetic compositions of the invention.

Exposure to ultraviolet light can result in excessive scaling andtexture changes of the stratum corneum. Therefore, the cosmeticcompositions of the subject invention optionally contain a sunscreen orsunblock. Suitable sunscreens or sunblocks may be organic or inorganic.

A wide variety of conventional sunscreening agents are suitable for usein the cosmetic compositions described herein. Sagarin, et al., atChapter VIII, pages 189 et seq., of Cosmetics Science and Technology(1972), discloses numerous suitable agents, and is incorporated hereinby reference. Specific suitable sunscreening agents include, forexample: p-aminobenzoic acid, its salts and its derivatives (ethyl,isobutyl, glyceryl esters; p-dimethylaminobenzoic acid); anthranilates(i.e., o-amino-benzoates; methyl, menthyl, phenyl, benzyl, phenylethyl,linalyl, terpinyl, and cyclohexenyl esters); salicylates (amyl, phenyl,octyl, benzyl, menthyl, glyceryl, and di-pro-pyleneglycol esters);cinnamic acid derivatives (menthyl and benzyl esters, a-phenylcinnamonitrile; butyl cinnamoyl pyruvate); dihydroxycinnamic acidderivatives (umbelliferone, methylumbelliferone,methylaceto-umbelliferone); trihydroxy-cinnamic acid derivatives(esculetin, methylesculetin, daphnetin, and the glucosides, esculin anddaphnin); hydrocarbons (diphenylbutadiene, stilbene); dibenzalacetoneand benzalacetophenone; naphtholsulfonates (sodium salts of2-naphthol-3,6-disulfonic and of 2-naphthol-6,8-disulfonic acids);di-hydroxynaphthoic acid and its salts; o- andp-hydroxybiphenyldisulfonates; coumarin derivatives (7-hydroxy,7-methyl, 3-phenyl); diazoles (2-acetyl-3-bromoindazole, phenylbenzoxazole, methyl naphthoxazole, various aryl benzothiazoles); quininesalts (bisulfate, sulfate, chloride, oleate, and tannate); quinolinederivatives (8-hydroxyquinoline salts, 2-phenylquinoline); hydroxy- ormethoxy-substituted benzophenones; uric and violuric acids; tannic acidand its derivatives (e.g., hexaethylether); (butyl carbotol) (6-propylpiperonyl) ether; hydroquinone; benzophenones (oxybenzene,sulisobenzone, dioxybenzone, benzoresorcinol,2,2′,4,4′-tetrahydroxybenzophenone,2,2′-dihydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxybenzophenone, octabenzone;4-isopropyldibenzoylmethane; butylmethoxydibenzoylmethane; etocrylene;octocrylene; [3-(4′-methylbenzylidene bornan-2-one) and4-isopropyl-di-benzoylmethane.

Also optionally useful in the cosmetic compositions are sunscreens suchas those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,370 issued to Sabatelli onJun. 26, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,186 issued to Sabatelli & Spirnakon Mar. 12, 1991, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.The sunscreening agents disclosed therein have, in a single molecule,two distinct chromophore moieties which exhibit different ultra-violetradiation absorption spectra. One of the chromophore moieties absorbspredominantly in the UVB radiation range and the other absorbs stronglyin the UVA radiation range. Members of this class of sunscreening agentsinclude 4-N,N-(2-ethylhexyl)methyl-aminobenzoic acid ester of2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone; N,N-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-aminobenzoic acidester with 4-hydroxydibenzoylmethane;4-N,N-(2-ethylhexyl)methyl-aminobenzoic acid ester with4-hydroxydibenzoylmethane; 4-N,N-(2-ethylhexyl)methyl-aminobenzoic acidester of 2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)benzophenone;4-N,N-(2-ethylhexyl)-methylaminobenzoic acid ester of4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)dibenzoylmethane;N,N-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-aminobenzoic acid ester of2-hydroxy-4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)benzophenone; andN,N-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-4-aminobenzoic acid ester of4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)dibenzoylmethane and mixtures thereof.

Suitable inorganic sunscreens or sunblocks include metal oxides, e.g.,zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

A safe and effective amount of the sunscreen or sunblock is used,typically from about 1% to about 20%, more typically from about 2% toabout 10%. Exact amounts will vary depending upon the sunscreen chosenand the desired Sun Protection Factor (SPF).

An agent may also be added to any of the compositions useful in thesubject invention to improve the skin substantivity of thosecompositions, particularly to enhance their resistance to being washedoff by water, or rubbed off. A preferred agent which will provide thisbenefit is a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid. Compositionscomprising this copolymer are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,157,Brock, issued May 5, 1987, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Cosmetic compositions of the present invention can optionally include ananti-oxidant/radical scavenger as an active ingredient. Theanti-oxidant/radical scavenger is especially useful for providingprotection against UV radiation which can cause increased scaling ortexture changes in the stratum corneum and against other environmentalagents which can cause skin damage.

A safe and effective amount of an anti-oxidant/radical scavenger may beadded to the compositions of the subject invention, preferably fromabout 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, ofthe composition.

Anti-oxidants/radical scavengers such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) andits salts, ascorbyl esters of fatty acids, ascorbic acid derivatives(e.g., magnesium ascorbyl phosphate), tocopherol (vitamin E), tocopherolsorbate, other esters of tocopherol, butylated hydroxy benzoic acids andtheir salts, 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid(commercially available under the tradename Trolox.sup.R), gallic acidand its alkyl esters, especially propyl gallate, uric acid and its saltsand alkyl esters, sorbic acid and its salts, amines (e.g.,N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, amino-guanidine), sulfhydryl compounds (e.g.,glutathione), dihydroxy fumaric acid and its salts, lycine pidolate,arginine pilolate, nordibydroguaiaretic acid, bioflavonoids, lysine,methionine, proline, catalase, superoxide dismutase, lactoferrin,silymarin, tea extracts, grape skin/seed extracts, melanin, and rosemaryextracts may be used.

As used herein, “chelating agent” refers to an active agent capable ofremoving a metal ion from a system by forming a complex so that themetal ion cannot readily participate in or catalyze chemical reactions.The inclusion of a chelating agent is especially useful for providingprotection against UV radiation which can contribute to excessivescaling or skin texture changes and against other environmental agentswhich can cause skin damage.

A safe and effective amount of a chelating agent can optionally be addedto the cosmetic compositions of the subject invention, preferably fromabout 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 1% to about 5%, ofthe composition. Exemplary chelators that are useful herein aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,884, issued Jan. 30, 1996 to Bissett etal.; International Publication No. 91/16035, Bush et al., published Oct.31, 1995; and International Publication No. 91/16034, Bush et al.,published Oct. 31, 1995; all incorporated herein by reference. Preferredchelators useful in compositions of the subject invention arefurildioxime and derivatives thereof.

Compositions of the present invention optionally comprise an organichydroxy acid. Suitable hydroxy acids include C₁-C₁₈ hydroxy acids,preferably C₈ or below. The hydroxy acids can be substituted orunsubstituted, straight chain, branched chain or cyclic (preferablystraight chain), and saturated or unsaturated (mono- orpoly-unsaturated) (preferably saturated). Non-limiting examples ofsuitable hydroxy acids include salicylic acid, glycolic acid, lacticacid, 5 octanoyl salicylic acid, hydroxyoctanoic acid, hydroxycaprylicacid, and lanolin fatty acids. Preferred concentrations of the organichydroxy acid range from about 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably fromabout 0.2% to about 5%, also preferably from about 0.5% to about 2%.Salicylic acid is preferred. The organic hydroxy acids enhance the skinappearance benefits of the present invention. For example, the organichydroxy acids tend to improve the texture of the skin.

A safe and effective amount of a desquamation agent can optionally beadded to the cosmetic compositions of the subject invention. In someembodiments, desquamation agents/exfoliants can comprise from about 0.1%to about 10%, from about 0.2% to about 5%, or from about 0.5% to about4% of the composition. Desquamation agents tend to improve the textureof the skin (e.g., smoothness). A variety of desquamation agents areknown in the art and are suitable for use herein, including but notlimited to the organic hydroxy agents described above.

The compositions of the present invention can also optionally include asafe and effective amount of a depilation agent. When used, thecomposition preferably contains from about 0.1% to about 10%, morepreferably from about 0.2% to about 5%, also preferably from about 0.5%to about 2% of depilation agent. A depilation agent preferred for useherein comprises a sulfhydryl compound, e.g., N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

The compositions of the present invention can also optionally comprise askin lightening agent. When used, the compositions preferably comprisefrom about 0.1% to about 10%, more preferably from about 0.2% to about5%, also preferably from about 0.5% to about 2%, of a skin lighteningagent. Suitable skin lightening agents include those known in the art,including kojic acid, arbutin, ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof,e.g., magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.

The cosmetic compositions of the present invention can also optionallycomprise a zinc salt. Zinc salts are especially preferred where thecomposition contains a sulfhydryl compound, e.g., N-acetyl-L-cysteine.Without intending to be limited or bound by theory, it is believed thatthe zinc salt acts as a chelating agent capable of complexing with thesulfhydryl compound prior to topical application, stabilizes thesulfhydryl compound and/or controls odor associated with the sulfhydrylcompound. Concentrations of the zinc salt can range from about 0.001% toabout 10%, more preferably from about 0.01% to about 5%, most preferablyfrom about 0.1% to about 0.5% by weight of the composition.

Preferred zinc salts include zinc acetate, zinc acetate hydrates such aszinc acetate-2-water, zinc aluminum oxide complexes such as gahnite,zinc diamine, zinc antimonide, zinc bromate hydrates such as zincbromate-6water, zinc bromide, zinc carbonates such as zincspar andsmithsonite, zinc chlorate hydrates such as zinc chlorate-4-water, zincchloride, zinc diamine dichloride, zinc citrate, zinc chromate, zincdichromate, zinc diphosphate, zinc hexacyanofluoride ferrate (II), zincfluoride, zinc fluoride hydrates such as zinc fluoride-4-water, zincformate, zinc formate hydrates such as zinc formate-2-water, zinchydroxide, zinc iodate, zinc iodate hydrates such as zinciodate-2-water, zinc iodide, zinc iron oxide complexes, zinc nitratehydrates such as zinc nitrate-6-water, zinc nitride, zinc oxalatehydrates such as zinc oxalate-2-water, zinc oxides such as zincite, zincperchlorate hydrates such as zinc perchlorate-6-water, zinc permanganatehydrates such as zinc permanganate-6-water, zinc peroxide, zincp-phenolsulfonate hydrates such as zinc p-phenosulfonate-8-water, zincphosphate, zinc phosphate hydrates such as zinc phosphate-4-water, zincphosphide, zinc-propionate, zinc selenate hydrates such as zincselenate-5-water, zinc selenide, zinc silicates such as zinc silicate(2) and zinc silicate (4), zinc silicon oxide water complexes such ashemimorphite, zinc hexafluorosilicate hydrates such as zinchexafluorosilicate-6-water, zinc stearate, zinc sulfate, zinc sulfatehydrates such as zinc sulfate-7-water, zinc sulfide, zinc sulfitehydrates such as zinc sulfite-2-water, zinc telluride, zinc thiocyanate,zinc (II) salts of N-acetyl L-cysteine, and mixtures thereof.

The cosmetic compositions of the present invention can optionallyfurther comprise a humectant, moisturizing agent or other skinconditioning agent. A variety of these materials can be employed andeach can be present at a level of from or about 0.1% to or about 20%,more preferably from or about 1% to or about 10%, and most preferablyfrom or about 2% to or about 5%. These materials include guanidine;glycolic acid and glycolate salts (e.g. ammonium and quaternary alkylammonium); lactic acid and lactate salts (e.g. ammonium and quaternaryalkyl ammonium); aloe vera in any of its variety of forms (e.g., aloevera gel); polyhydroxy alcohols such as sorbitol, glycerol, hexanetriol,propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hexylene glycol and the like;polyethylene glycols; sugars and starches; sugar and starch derivatives(e.g., alkoxylated glucose); hyaluronic acid; lactamidemonoethanolamine; acetamide monoethanolamine; and mixtures thereof. Alsouseful herein are the propoxylated glycerols described in U.S. Pat. No.4,976,953, which is description is incorporated herein by reference.

Also optionally useful are various C₁-C₃₀ monoesters and polyesters ofsugars and related materials. These esters are derived from a sugar orpolyol moiety and one or more carboxylic acid moieties. Depending on theconstituent acid and sugar, these esters can be in either liquid orsolid form at room temperature. Examples of liquid esters include:glucose tetraoleate, the glucose tetraesters of soybean oil fatty acids(unsaturated), the mannose tetraesters of mixed soybean oil fatty acids,the galactose tetraesters of oleic acid, the arabinose tetraesters oflinoleic acid, xylose tetralinoleate, galactose pentaoleate, sorbitoltetraoleate, the sorbitol hexaesters of unsaturated soybean oil fattyacids, xylitol pentaoleate, sucrose tetraoleate, sucrose pentaoletate,sucrose hexaoleate, sucrose hepatoleate, sucrose octaoleate, andmixtures thereof. Examples of solid esters include: sorbitol hexaesterin which the carboxylic acid ester moieties are palmitoleate andarachidate in a 1:2 molar ratio; the octaester of raffinose in which thecarboxylic acid ester moieties are linoleate and behenate in a 1:3 molarratio; the heptaester of maltose wherein the esterifying carboxylic acidmoieties are sunflower seed oil fatty acids and lignocerate in a 3:4molar ratio; the octaester of sucrose wherein the esterifying carboxylicacid moieties are oleate and behenate in a 2:6 molar ratio; and theoctaester of sucrose wherein the esterifying carboxylic acid moietiesare laurate, linoleate and behenate in a 1:3:4 molar ratio. A preferredsolid material is sucrose polyester in which the degree ofesterification is 7-8, and in which the fatty acid moieties are C:18mono- and/or di-unsaturated and behenic, in a molar ratio ofunsaturates:behenic of 1:7 to 3:5. A particularly preferred solid sugarpolyester is the octaester of sucrose in which there are about 7 behenicfatty acid moieties and about 1 oleic acid moiety in the molecule. Theester materials are further described in, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,831,854,4,005,196, to Jandacek, issued Jan. 25, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,195,to Jandacek, issued Jan. 25, 1977, U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,516, to Letton etal., issued Apr. 26, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,515, to Letton et al.,issued Apr. 26, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,514, to Letton et al., issuedApr. 26, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,300, to Jandacek et al., issued Jan.10, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 3,963,699, to Rizzi et al, issued Jun. 15, 1976;U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,772, to Volpenhein, issued May 21, 1985; and U.S.Pat. No. 4,517,360, to Volpenhein, issued May 21, 1985; all of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

The cosmetic compositions of the present invention can also optionallyinclude an extract obtained by suitable physical and/or chemicalisolation from natural sources (e.g., plants), including those known inthe topical personal care art. Preferred extracts are those whichenhance the skin appearance benefits of the present invention, and whichare preferably used in a safe and effective amount, more preferably anamount of from 0.1% to about 20%, even more preferably 0.5% to about10%, also from 1% to about 5%. Such extracts include plant and fungalextracts such as extracts of yeast, rice bran, and of the plant CentellaAsiatica. Natural extracts of Centella Asiatica are preferred and arecommercially available from MMP, Inc. of Plainfield, N.J. under thetrade name(s) Centella Asiatica E.P.C.A. (“Extract Purified of Centellaasiatica”) and Genines amel. Genines amel is the purer form of theextract.

Compounds which are known to stimulate the production of collagen canalso optionally be used in cosmetic composition of the presentinvention. Such compounds include Factor X (kinetin), Factor Z (zeatin),n-methyl taurine, dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, palmitoyl hydroxy wheatprotein, biopeptide CL (palmitoyl glycyl-histidyl-lysine), ASC III(Amplifier of Synthesis of Collagen III, E. Merck, Germany), and betaglucan.

The cosmetic compositions hereof can also optionally include naturalceramides or the like, for example, ceramide 1-6.

The cosmetic compositions can also optionally contain an oil absorbentsuch as are known in the art, e.g. clays (e.g. bentonite) and polymericabsorbents (e.g., Polymeric derivatised starches, (e.g., from NationalStarch), Derivatised globulin proteins, such as BioPol OE (Arch PC),MICROSPONGES 5647 and POLYTRAP, both commercially available fromAdvanced Polymer Systems, Inc. of Redwood City, Calif., USA.,MICROSPONGES 5647 is a polymer mixture derived from styrene, methylmethacrylate, and hydrogel acrylate/methacrylate.

Other examples of additional components optionally useful herein includethe following: water-soluble vitamins and derivatives thereof (e.g.,vitamin C); polyethyleneglycols and polypropyleneglycols; polymers foraiding the film-forming properties and substantivity of the composition(such as a copolymer of eicosene and vinyl pyrrolidone, an example ofwhich is available from GAF Chemical Corporation as Ganex® V-220). Alsouseful are crosslinked and noncrosslinked nonionic and cationicpolyacrylamides (e.g., Salcare SC92 which has the CTFA designationpolyquaternium 32 (and) mineral oil, and Salcare SC 95 which has theCTFA designation polyquaternium 37 (and) mineral oil (and) PPG-1trideceth-6, and the nonionic Seppi-Gel polyacrylamides available fromSeppic Corp.). Also useful are crosslinked and uncrosslinked carboxylicacid polymers and copolymers such as those containing one or moremonomers derived from acrylic acid, substituted acrylic acids, and saltsand esters of these acrylic acids and the substituted acrylic acids,wherein the crosslinking agent contains two or more carbon-carbon doublebonds and is derived from a polyhydric alcohol (examples useful hereininclude the carbomers, which are homopolymers of acrylic acidcrosslinked with allyl ethers of sucrose or pentaerytritol and which areavailable as the Carbopol® 900 series from B. F. Goodrich, andcopolymers of C.sub.10-30 alkyl acrylates with one or more monomers ofacrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or one of their short chain (i.e., C₁₋₄alcohol) esters, wherein the crosslinking agent is an allyl ether ofsucrose or pentaerytritol, these copolymers being known asacrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymers and are commerciallyavailable as Carbopol® 1342, Pemulen TR-1, and Pemulen TR-2, from B. F.Goodrich). These carboxylic acid polymers and copolymers are more fullydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,445, to Haffey et al., issued Feb. 11,1992; U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,949, to Huang et al., issued Apr. 5, 1985;U.S. Pat. No. 2,798,053, to Brown, issued Jul. 2, 1957; which areincorporated by reference herein. See also, CTFA International CosmeticIngredient Dictionary, fourth edition, 1991, pp. 12 and 80; which isalso incorporated herein by reference.

C. Saponification of Oil-Bearing Microbial Biomass and Extracted Oil

In some embodiments, microalgal biomass and/or microalgal oil can becombined with saponified oils derived from microalgae or othermicroorganisms. These saponified oils can optionally be used in place ofsoap components that may otherwise be combined with the microalgalbiomass or microalgal oil to form cosmetic compositions in accordancewith the present invention. In some cases, a portion of a the microalgaloil (triacylglycerides) is saponified, and the partially saponified oilis combined with one or more other cosmetic ingredients to form acosmetic compositions including both saponified microalgal oil andnon-saponified microalgal oil. As described below, the ratio ofsaponified oil to non-saponified oil can be modified by controlling thequantity of base used in the reaction.

Animal and plant oils are typically made of triacylglycerols (TAGs),which are esters of fatty acids with the trihydric alcohol, glycerol. Inan alkaline hydrolysis reaction, the glycerol in a TAG is removed,leaving three carboxylic acid anions that can associate with alkalimetal cations such as sodium or potassium to produce fatty acid salts. Atypical reaction scheme is as follows:

In this scheme, the carboxylic acid constituents are cleaved from theglycerol moiety and replaced with hydroxyl groups. The quantity of base(e.g., KOH) that is used in the reaction is determined by the desireddegree of saponification. If the objective is, for example, to produce asoap product that comprises some of the oils originally present in theTAG composition, an amount of base insufficient to convert all of theTAGs to fatty acid salts is introduced into the reaction mixture.Normally, this reaction is performed in an aqueous solution and proceedsslowly, but may be expedited by the addition of heat. Precipitation ofthe fatty acid salts can be facilitated by addition of salts, such aswater-soluble alkali metal halides (e.g., NaCl or KCl), to the reactionmixture. Preferably, the base is an alkali metal hydroxide, such as NaOHor KOH. Alternatively, other bases, such as alkanolamines, including forexample triethanolamine and aminomethylpropanol, can be used in thereaction scheme. In some cases, these alternatives may be preferred toproduce a clear soap product.

Saponification of oil bearing microbial biomass can be performed onintact biomass or biomass that has been disrupted prior to beingsubjected to the alkaline hydrolysis reaction. In the former case,intact microbial biomass generated via the culturing of microorganismsas described herein can be directly contacted with a base to convertester-containing lipid components of the biomass to fatty acid salts. Insome cases, all or a portion of the water in which the microbes havebeen cultured is removed and the biomass is resuspended in an aqueoussolution containing an amount of base sufficient to saponify the desiredportion of the glycerolipid and fatty acid ester components of thebiomass. In some cases, less than 100% of the glycerolipids and fattyacid esters in the biomass are converted to fatty acid salts.

In some methods of the invention, the biomass is disrupted prior tobeing subjected to the alkaline hydrolysis reaction. Disruption of thebiomass can be accomplished via any one or more of the methods describedabove for lysing cells, including heat-induced lysis, mechanical lysis,or the like, in order to make the intracellular contents of themicroorganisms more readily accessible to the base. This can help tofacilitate the conversion of TAGs or fatty acid esters to fatty acidsalts. Although acid-induced lysis can be used to disrupt the biomassprior to saponification, other methods may be more desirable to reducethe possibility that additional base will be consumed to neutralize anyremaining acid during the alkaline hydrolysis reaction, which may impactthe conversion efficiency to fatty acid salts. Because the applicationof heat can expedite the alkaline hydrolysis reaction, heat-inducedlysis can be used prior to or during the saponification reaction toproduce the fatty acid salts.

In some embodiments, the biomass is not subjected to any treatment, orany treatment other than disruption, prior to being subjected to thealkaline hydrolysis reaction. In some embodiments, prior enrichment ofthe biomass to increase the ratio of lipid to non-lipid material in thebiomass to more than 50% (or by more than 50%) by weight, is performed.In other embodiments, the biomass is subjected to the alkalinehydrolysis reaction without a step of prior enrichment. In some cases,the biomass subjected to the alkaline hydrolysis reaction containscomponents other than water in the same relative proportions as thebiomass at the point of harvesting. In those cases in whichsubstantially all of the water has been removed, the biomass comprises acellular emulsion or substantially-dried emulsion concentrate.

Any of the microorganisms described herein can be used to producelipid-containing biomass for the production of saponified oils. In somecases, the microorganisms can also impart other characteristics to thesaponified-oil compositions produced from the methods described herein.For example, microalgae of different species, as well as microalgaegrown under different conditions, vary in color, including green,yellow, orange, red, and the like. Small quantities of the compoundsthat impart these colors to the microalgae can contaminate (e.g., bypurposefully retaining some of these materials) the resultingsaponified-oil compositions and thereby provide natural colorants. Insome cases, other constituents of the biomass, including carotenoids andxanthophylls, can also be retained in small quantities in thesaponified-oil compositions.

The extent of saponification of the biomass can vary in the methods ofthe invention. In some cases it is desirable to produce a saponified-oilcomposition that also includes glycerolipid constituents of the biomass.The appropriate quantity of base (e.g., NaOH) for use in the alkalinehydrolysis reaction can be determined based on an analysis of theglycerolipid and fatty acid ester content of the biomass. In some cases,it is preferable to use an excess of base to directly saponifylipid-containing biomass because some of the base may be consumed byreaction with other constituents of the biomass. In some cases, the useof excess quantities of base to saponify the ester-containing lipidconstituents of the biomass results in a saponified oil composition thatis undesirably alkaline. In these instances, the composition can bepurified to reduce the alkalinity of the composition by boiling thesaponified oil composition in water and re-precipitating the fatty acidsalts via addition of salts such as NaCl, KCl, or the like. The purifiedsoap composition can then be subjected to further processing, such asremoving excess water, introducing various additives into the soapcomposition, moulding the soap in bars or other shapes, or the like.

In some cases, the fatty acid salts (also referred to as saponifiedoils) generated from the methods described herein can be combined withmicroalgal biomass, microalgal oil, and/or other cosmetic ingredients asdescribed herein.

The degree of saponification of extracted lipid constituents of thebiomass is more readily controlled because of a reduced probability thatthe base will be consumed through interaction with components other thanglycerolipids or fatty acid esters present in the extracted oil.Extraction of the lipid constituents can be performed via conventionalhexane-extraction procedures, or via an oil-extraction orsolventless-extraction procedure.

Conventional hexane-extraction (other suitable organic solvents can alsobe used) generally comprises contacting the biomass or lysate withhexane in an amount and for a period of time sufficient to allow thelipid to form a solution with the hexane. The mixture can then befiltered and the hexane removed by, for example, rotoevaporation. Hexaneextraction methods are well known in the art.

Oil extraction includes the addition of an oil directly to a lysatewithout prior separation of the lysate components. After addition of theoil, the lysate separates either of its own accord or as a result ofcentrifugation or the like into different layers. The layers can includein order of decreasing density: a pellet of heavy solids, an aqueousphase, an emulsion phase, and an oil phase. The emulsion phase is anemulsion of lipids and aqueous phase. Depending on the percentage of oiladded with respect to the lysate (w/w or v/v), the force ofcentrifugation if any, volume of aqueous media and other factors, eitheror both of the emulsion and oil phases can be present. Incubation ortreatment of the cell lysate or the emulsion phase with the oil isperformed for a time sufficient to allow the lipid produced by themicroorganism to become solubilized in the oil to form a heterogeneousmixture.

In various embodiments, the oil used in the extraction process isselected from the group consisting of oil from soy, rapeseed, canola,palm, palm kernel, coconut, corn, waste vegetable oil, Chinese tallow,olive, sunflower, cotton seed, chicken fat, beef tallow, porcine tallow,microalgae, macroalgae, Cuphea, flax, peanut, choice white grease(lard), Camelina sativa mustard seedcashew nut, oats, lupine, kenaf,calendula, hemp, coffee, linseed, hazelnut, euphorbia, pumpkin seed,coriander, camellia, sesame, safflower, rice, tung oil tree, cocoa,copra, pium poppy, castor beans, pecan, jojoba, jatropha, macadamia,Brazil nuts, and avocado. The amount of oil added to the lysate istypically greater than 5% (measured by v/v and/or w/w) of the lysatewith which the oil is being combined. Thus, a preferred v/v or w/w ofthe oil is greater than 5%, or at least 6%, at least 7%, at least 10%,at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, atleast 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, and at least 95% ofthe cell lysate.

Lipids can also be extracted from a lysate via a solventless extractionprocedure without substantial or any use of organic solvents or oils bycooling the lysate. In such methods, the lysate is preferably producedby acid treatment in combination with above room temperature. Sonicationcan also be used, particularly if the temperature is between roomtemperature and 65° C. Such a lysate on centrifugation or settling canbe separated into layers, one of which is an aqueous:lipid layer. Otherlayers can include a solid pellet, an aqueous layer, and a lipid layer.Lipid can be extracted from the emulsion layer by freeze thawing orotherwise cooling the emulsion. In such methods, it is not necessary toadd any organic solvent or oil. If any solvent or oil is added, it canbe below 5% v/v or w/w of the lysate.

The extracted lipids are then subjected to an alkaline hydrolysisreaction as described above, in which the amount of base added to thereaction mixture can be tailored to saponify a desired amount of theglycerolipid and fatty acid ester constituents of the lipid composition.A close approximation or quantification of the amount of esterifiedlipid in the composition can be used to tailor the amount of base neededto saponify a specified portion of the oil, thereby providing anopportunity to modulate the amount of unsaponified oil remaining in theresulting composition. In some cases, at least 1%, at least 2%, at least3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 6%, at least 7%, at least 8%, atleast 9%, or at least 10% of the oil, by weight, remains unsaponified inthe resulting composition. In other cases, it may be desirable tosaponify all or substantially all of the oil, such that the resultingcomposition contains no more than 10%, no more than 9%, no more than 8%,no more than 7%, no more than 6%, no more than 5%, no more than 4%, nomore than 3%, no more than 2%, no more than 1%, or no more than 0.5%unsaponified oil by weight.

In various embodiments of the invention, the microbial biomass cancontain lipids with varying carbon chain lengths, and with varyinglevels of saturation. The characteristics of the lipids can result fromthe natural glycerolipid profiles of the one or more microorganismpopulations used to generate the biomass subjected to the saponificationreaction, or can be the result of lipid pathway engineering, asdescribed herein, in which transgenic strains of microorganisms aredesigned to produce particular lipids in greater proportions.

D. Cosmetic Compositions of Microalgal Biomass and Algal Oil

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to cosmeticcompositions comprising at least 1% w/w microalgal biomass and/ormicroalgal oil. In some embodiments, the cosmetic compositions compriseat least 2%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, atleast 25%, at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, atleast 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, atleast 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95%microalgal biomass and/or microalgal oil. The remainder of a cosmeticcomposition in accordance with the present invention comprises water orother conventional cosmetic ingredients, including those identifiedherein.

Cosmetic compositions of the present invention can be in the form offinished cosmetic products for use in skin care, bathing, and/or otherapplications pertaining to the maintenance or improvement of anindividual's appearance or health. In other cases, the cosmeticcompositions of the invention are in the form of cosmetic ingredientsthemselves, for use in combination with other cosmetic ingredients inthe production of finished cosmetic products.

In some embodiments, cosmetic compositions of the present inventioncomprise at least 1% w/w microalgal biomass, or a greater percentage asdescribed above. The microalgal biomass comprises at least 10%microalgal oil by dry weight, and can include greater amounts ofmicroalgal oil as well as other constituents as described herein.

The microalgal biomass useful in the cosmetic compositions of theinvention can be derived from one or more species of microalgae culturedand/or genetically engineered as described herein.

In various embodiments, cosmetic compositions comprising microalgalbiomass can be formulated as decorative or care cosmetics with one ormore other cosmetic ingredients. Exemplary cosmetic compositionsinclude, without limitation, skin-care creams, lotions, powders,perfumes and deodorants, lipsticks, bath oils, bath scrubs and cleansingproducts, masks, and the like.

In some embodiments, cosmetic compositions of the present inventioncomprise at least 1% w/w microalgal oil, or a greater percentage asdescribed above. The microalgal oil is derived from cultures ofmicroalgae grown under heterotrophic conditions or those comprising atleast 10% oil by dry cell weight, as described herein. In some cases,the microalgae can be genetically engineered.

In various embodiments, cosmetic compositions comprising microalgal oilcan be formulated as decorative or care cosmetics with one or more othercosmetic ingredients. Exemplary cosmetic compositions include, withoutlimitation, skin-care creams, lotions, beauty oils, perfumes anddeodorants, lipsticks, bath oils, bath scrubs and cleansing products,masks, and the like.

E. Use in Conventional Finished Cosmetic Products

In some cases, microalgal cosmetic compositions in accordance with thepresent invention can be used in otherwise conventional finishedcosmetic products. In these instances, the cosmetic compositioncomprising microalgal biomass and/or microalgal oil is combined with oneor more other cosmetic ingredients, as described herein, to form acosmetic composition that may be packaged as a finished cosmeticproduct. In some cases, microalgal cosmetic compositions of the presentinvention can be packaged as a cosmetic ingredient with optionalinstructions for combining the microalgal composition with conventionalcosmetic ingredients to create finished cosmetic products.

In at least one embodiment, the present invention is directed to amethod of preparing a finished cosmetic composition, e.g., a skin-careproduct, comprising (i) culturing a population of microalgae underconditions to generate microalgal biomass comprising at least 10%microalgal oil by dry weight, (ii) harvesting the biomass from themicroalgal culture, (iii) performing one or more optional processingsteps, e.g., drying the biomass or extracting oil from the biomass, (iv)combining the biomass or the extracted oil with at least one othercosmetic ingredient to form a cosmetic composition, and (v) packagingthe cosmetic composition with optional instructions for its use as afinished cosmetic product.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of using amicroalgal biomass composition to soften and impart pliability to skin.In one embodiment, the microalgal biomass composition comprisespredominantly intact microalgal cells containing at least 10% microalgaloil by dry weight. Preferably, the algal oil present in the compositionis predominantly encapsulated in cells of the biomass. The microalgalbiomass composition is applied to human skin and retained in contactwith the skin for a period of time sufficient to permit release of aspecified percentage of the oil from the intact microalgal cells byenzymatic degradation of the cells. For example, the composition can beretained in contact with the skin for a period of time sufficient torelease at least 50% of the microalgal oil from the predominantly intactcells. In some cases, this period may be from 3-4 hours.

Without intending to be bound by any particular theory, it is believedthat enzymes present on human skin will slowly degrade the intactmicroalgal cells, thereby releasing the intracellular contents,including microalgal oil, over a period of time. In some embodiments,the microalgal biomass composition is retained in contact with the skinfor at least 15 minutes, for at least 30 minutes, for at least 45minutes, for at least 1 hour, for at least 2 hours, for at least 3hours, or for at least 4 hours or more.

Microalgal biomass compositions useful in the above method can alsocomprise cells containing at least 25%, at least 35%, or at least 45%oil by dry weight. In other cases, the cells may contain otherpercentages of oil as described herein. In some cases, mixtures ofmicroalgal cells having different glycerolipid profiles can be combinedtogether to form the microalgal biomass composition.

All references cited herein, including patents, patent applications, andpublications, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties,whether previously specifically incorporated or not. The publicationsmentioned herein are cited for the purpose of describing and disclosingreagents, methodologies and concepts that may be used in connection withthe present invention. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admissionthat these references are prior art in relation to the inventionsdescribed herein. In particular, the following patent applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes:U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/074,610, filed Jun. 20, 2008,entitled “Soaps and Cosmetics Products Produced from Oil-BearingMicrobial Biomass and Oils”; U.S. Provisional Application No.61/105,121, filed Oct. 14, 2008, entitled “Food Compositions ofMicroalgal Biomass”; PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2008/065563, filedJun. 2, 2008, entitled “Production of Oil in Microorganisms”; PCT PatentApplication No. PCT/US2007/001653, filed Jan. 19, 2007, entitled“Microalgae-Derived Composition for Improving Health and Appearance ofSkin”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/176,320, filed Jul. 18,2008, entitled “Compositions for Improving the Health and Appearance ofSkin”.

Although this invention has been described in connection with specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodifications. This application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, theprinciples of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within known or customary practice within theart to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to theessential features hereinbefore set forth.

V. Examples

The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit, theclaimed invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Cultivation of Microalgae to Achieve High Oil Content

Microalgae strains were cultivated to achieve a high percentage of oilby dry cell weight. Cryopreserved cells were thawed at room temperatureand 500 ul of cells were added to 4.5 ml of medium (4.2 g/L K₂HPO₄, 3.1g/L NaH₂PO₄, 0.24 g/L MgSO₄.7H₂O, 0.25 g/L Citric Acid monohydrate,0.025 g/L CaCl₂ 2H₂O, 2 g/L yeast extract) plus 2% glucose and grown for7 days at 28° C. with agitation (200 rpm) in a 6-well plate. Dry cellweights were determined by centrifuging 1 ml of culture at 14,000 rpmfor 5 min in a pre-weighed Eppendorf tube. The culture supernatant wasdiscarded and the resulting cell pellet washed with 1 ml of deionizedwater. The culture was again centrifuged, the supernatant discarded, andthe cell pellets placed at −80° C. until frozen. Samples were thenlyophyllized for 24 hrs and dry cell weights calculated. Fordetermination of total lipid in cultures, 3 ml of culture was removedand subjected to analysis using an Ankom system (Ankom Inc., Macedon,N.Y.) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Samples were subjectedto solvent extraction with an Amkom XT10 extractor according to themanufacturer's protocol. Total lipid was determined as the difference inmass between acid hydrolyzed dried samples and solvent extracted, driedsamples. Percent oil dry cell weight measurements are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Percent oil by dry cell weight. Species Strain % oil Strain #Chlorella kessleri UTEX 397 39.42 4 Chlorella kessleri UTEX 2229 54.07 5Chlorella kessleri UTEX 398 41.67 6 Parachlorella kessleri SAG 11.8037.78 7 Parachlorella kessleri SAG 14.82 50.70 8 Parachlorella kessleriSAG 21.11 H9 37.92 9 Prototheca stagnora UTEX 327 13.14 10 Protothecamoriformis UTEX 1441 18.02 11 Prototheca moriformis UTEX 1435 27.17 12Chlorella minutissima UTEX 2341 31.39 13 Chlorella protothecoides UTEX250 34.24 1 Chlorella protothecoides UTEX 25 40.00 2 Chlorellaprotothecoides CCAP 211/8D 47.56 3 Chlorella sp. UTEX 2068 45.32 14Chlorella sp. CCAP 211/92 46.51 15 Chlorella sorokiniana SAG 211.40B46.67 16 Parachlorella beijerinkii SAG 2046 30.98 17 Chlorellaluteoviridis SAG 2203 37.88 18 Chlorella vulgaris CCAP 211/11K 35.85 19Chlorella reisiglii CCAP 11/8 31.17 20 Chlorella ellipsoidea CCAP 211/4232.93 21 Chlorella saccharophila CCAP 211/31 34.84 22 Chlorellasaccharophila CCAP 211/32 30.51 23

EXAMPLE 2

Fermentation of Microalgae to Generate High Oil Content Biomass

Three fermentation processes were performed with three different mediaformulations with the goal of generating algal biomass with high oilcontent. The first formulation (Media 1) was based on medium describedin Wu et al. (1994 Science in China, vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 326-335) andconsisted of per liter: KH₂PO₄, 0.7 g; K₂HPO₄, 0.3 g; MgSO₄-7H₂O, 0.3 g;FeSO₄-7H₂O, 3 mg; thiamine hydrochloride, 10 μg; glucose, 20 g; glycine,0.1 g; H₃BO₃, 2.9 mg; MnCl₂-4H₂O, 1.8 mg; ZnSO₄-7H₂O, 220 μg;CuSO₄-5H₂O, 80 μg; and NaMoO₄-2H₂O, 22.9 mg. The second medium (Media 2)was derived from the flask media described in Example 1 and consisted ofper liter: K₂HPO₄, 4.2 g; NaH₂PO₄, 3.1 g; MgSO₄-7H₂O, 0.24 g; citricacid monohydrate, 0.25 g; calcium chloride dehydrate, 25 mg; glucose, 20g; yeast extract, 2 g. The third medium (Media 3) was a hybrid andconsisted of per liter: K₂HPO₄, 4.2 g; NaH₂PO₄, 3.1 g; MgSO₄-7H₂O, 0.24g; citric acid monohydrate, 0.25 g; calcium chloride dehydrate, 25 mg;glucose, 20 g; yeast extract, 2 g; H₃BO₃, 2.9 mg; MnCl₂-4H₂O, 1.8 mg;ZnSO₄-7H₂O, 220 μg; CuSO₄-5H₂O, 80 μg; and NaMoO₄-2H₂O, 22.9 mg. Allthree media formulations were prepared and autoclave sterilized in labscale fermentor vessels for 30 minutes at 121° C. Sterile glucose wasadded to each vessel following cool down post autoclave sterilization.

Inoculum for each fermentor was Chlorella protothecoides (UTEX 250),prepared in two flask stages using the medium and temperature conditionsof the fermentor inoculated. Each fermentor was inoculated with 10%(v/v) mid-log culture. The three lab scale fermentors were held at 28°C. for the duration of the experiment. The microalgal cell growth inMedia 1 was also evaluated at a temperature of 23° C. For all fermentorevaluations, pH was maintained at 6.6-6.8, agitations at 500 rpm, andairflow at 1 vvm. Fermentation cultures were cultivated for 11 days.Biomass accumulation was measured by optical density at 750 nm and drycell weight.

Lipid/oil concentration was determined using direct transesterificationwith standard gas chromatography methods. Briefly, samples offermentation broth with biomass was blotted onto blotting paper andtransferred to centrifuge tubes and dried in a vacuum oven at 65-70° C.for 1 hour. When the samples were dried, 2 mL of 5% H₂SO₄ in methanolwas added to the tubes. The tubes were then heated on a heat block at65-70° C. for 3.5 hours, while being vortexed and sonicatedintermittently. 2 ml of heptane was then added and the tubes were shakenvigorously. 2M1 of 6% K₂CO₃ was added and the tubes were shakenvigorously to mix and then centrifuged at 800 rpm for 2 minutes. Thesupernatant was then transferred to GC vials containing Na₂SO₄ dryingagent and ran using standard gas chromatography methods. Percentoil/lipid was based on a dry cell weight basis. The dry cell weights forcells grown using: Media 1 at 23° C. was 9.4 g/L; Media 1 at 28° C. was1.0 g/L, Media 2 at 28° C. was 21.2 g/L; and Media 3 at 28° C. was 21.5g/L. The lipid/oil concentration for cells grown using: Media 1 at 23°C. was 3 g/L; Media 1 at 28° C. was 0.4 g/L; Media 2 at 28° C. was 18g/L; and Media 3 at 28° C. was 19 g/L. The percent oil based on dry cellweight for cells grown using: Media 1 at 23° C. was 32%; Media 1 at 28°C. was 40%; Media 2 at 28° C. was 85%; and Media 3 at 28° C. was 88%.The lipid profiles (in area %, after normalizing to the internalstandard) for algal biomass generated using the three different mediaformulations at 28° C. are summarized below in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Lipid profiles for Chlorella protothecoides grown underdifferent media conditions. Media 1 28° C. Media 2 28° C. Media 3 28° C.(in Area %) (in Area %) (in Area %) C14:0 1.40 0.85 0.72 C16:0 8.71 7.757.43 C16:1 — 0.18 0.17 C17:0 — 0.16 0.15 C17:1 — 0.15 0.15 C18:0 3.773.66 4.25 C18:1 73.39 72.72 73.83 C18:2 11.23 12.82 11.41 C18:3 alpha1.50 0.90 1.02 C20:0 — 0.33 0.37 C20:1 — 0.10 0.39 C20:1 — 0.25 — C22:0— 0.13 0.11

EXAMPLE 3

Culture of Chlorella protothecoides to Generate High Oil Algal Flakes

Chlorella protothecoides (UTEX 250) biomass was produced using 5,000 Lfermentation tanks using processes described in Example 2. Glucose (cornsyrup) concentration was between was monitored throughout the run. Whenthe glucose concentration was low, more glucose was added to thefermentation tank. After all nitrogen was consumed, the cells beganaccumulating lipid. Samples of biomass were taken throughout the run tomonitor lipid levels and the run was stopped when the biomass reachedthe desired lipid content (over 40% lipid by dry cell weight). In thiscase, the biomass was harvested when it reached approximately 50% lipidby dry cell weight.

To process the microaglal biomass into algal flakes, the harvestedChlorella protothecoides biomass was separated from the culture mediumusing centrifugation and dried on a drum dryer using standard methods atapproximately 150-170° C. The resulting drum-dried Chlorellaprotothecoides biomass with approximately 50% lipid by dry cell weight(high lipid) was packaged and stored for use as algal flakes.

EXAMPLE 4

Production of Algal Powder (High Lipid)

High lipid containing Chlorella protothecoides grown using thefermentation methods and conditions described in Example 3 was processedinto a high lipid algal powder. To process the microaglal biomass intoalgal powder, the harvested Chlorella protothecoides biomass wasseparated from the culture medium and then concentrated usingcentrifugation and dried using a spray dryer according to standardmethods. The resulting algal powder (whole algal cells that have beenspray dried into a powder form) was packaged and stored until use.

EXAMPLE 5

Production of Algal Flour (High Lipid)

High lipid containing Chlorella protothecoides grown using thefermentation methods and conditions described in Example 3 was processedinto a high lipid algal flour. To process the microaglal biomass intoalgal flour, the harvested Chlorella protothecoides biomass wasseparated from the culture medium using centrifugation. The resultingconcentrated biomass, containing over 40% moisture, was micronized usinga high pressure homogenizer ((GEA model NS1001) operating at a pressurelevel of 1000-1200 Bar until the average particle size of the biomasswas less than 10 μm. The algal homogenate was then spray dried usingstandard methods. The resulting algal flour (micronized algal cell thathave been spray dried into a powder form) was packaged and stored untiluse.

EXAMPLE 6

Chemical Mutagenesis to Generate Algal Color Mutants

Chlorella protothecoides (UTEX 250) was grown according to the methodsand conditions described in Example 1. Chemical mutagenesis wasperformed on the algal strain using N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitroguanidine(NTG). The algal culture was subjected to the mutagen (NTG) and thenselected through rounds of reisolation on 2.0% glucose agar plates. Thecolonies were screened for color mutants. Chlorella protothecoides(wildtype) appears to be a golden color when grown heterotophically. Thescreen produced one strain that appeared white in color on the agarplate. This color mutant was named 33-55 (deposited on Oct. 13, 2009 inaccordance with the Budapest Treaty at the American Type CultureCollection at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209 witha Patent Deposit Designation of PTA-XXXX). Another colony was alsoisolated and went through three rounds of reisolation to confirm thatthis mutation was stable. This mutant appeared to be light yellow incolor on the agar plate and was named 25-32 (deposited on Oct. 13, 2009in accordance with the Budapest Treaty at the American Type CultureCollection at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209 witha Patent Deposit Designation of PTA-XXXX).

Lipid Profile of Chlorella protothecoides 33-55

Chlorella protothecoides 33-55 and the parental Chlorella protothecoides(UTEX 250) were grown according to the methods and conditions describedin Example 1. The percent lipid (by dry cell weight) was determined forboth strains: Chlorella protothecoides 33-55 was at 68% lipid and theparental strain was at 62% lipid. The lipid profiles were determined forboth strains and were as follows (expressed as area %): Chlorellaprotothecoides 33-55, C14:0 (0.81); C16:0 (10.35); C16:1 (0.20); C18:0(4.09); C18:1 (72.16); C18:2 (10.60); C18:3 (0.10); and others (1.69);for the parental strain, C14:0 (0.77); C16:0 (9.67); C16:1 (0.22); C18:0(4.73); C18:1 (71.45); C18:2 (10.99); C18:3 (0.14); and others (2.05).

EXAMPLE 7

Preparation of Biomass

Microalgal biomass is generated by culturing microalgae as describedherein. The microalgal biomass is then harvested from the culturebioreactor, and washed with water to remove residual salts and culturemedia. The microalgal biomass is then optionally subjected to a celldisruption procedure to generate a lysate and/or optionally dried toform a microalgal biomass composition.

GMP procedures are followed. Any person who, by medical examination orsupervisory observation, is shown to have, or appears to have, anillness, open lesion, including boils, sores, or infected wounds, or anyother abnormal source of microbial contamination by which there is areasonable possibility of the microalgal biomass, biomass-contactsurfaces, or biomass-packaging materials becoming contaminated, is to beexcluded from any operations which may be expected to result in suchcontamination until the condition is corrected. Personnel are instructedto report such health conditions to their supervisors. All personsworking in direct contact with the microalgal biomass, biomass-contactsurfaces, and biomass-packaging materials conform to hygienic practiceswhile on duty to the extent necessary to protect against contaminationof the microalgal biomass. The methods for maintaining cleanlinessinclude, but are not limited to: (1) Wearing outer garments suitable tothe operation in a manner that protects against the contamination ofbiomass, biomass-contact surfaces, or biomass packaging materials; (2)Maintaining adequate personal cleanliness; (3) Washing hands thoroughly(and sanitizing if necessary to protect against contamination withundesirable microorganisms) in an adequate hand-washing facility beforestarting work, after each absence from the work station, and at anyother time when the hands may have become soiled or contaminated; (4)Removing all unsecured jewelry and other objects that might fall intobiomass, equipment, or containers, and removing hand jewelry that cannotbe adequately sanitized during periods in which biomass is manipulatedby hand. If such hand jewelry cannot be removed, it may be covered bymaterial which can be maintained in an intact, clean, and sanitarycondition and which effectively protects against the contamination bythese objects of the biomass, biomass-contact surfaces, orbiomass-packaging materials; (5) Maintaining gloves, if they are used inbiomass handling, in an intact, clean, and sanitary condition. Thegloves should be of an impermeable material; (6) Wearing, whereappropriate, in an effective manner, hair nets, headbands, caps, beardcovers, or other effective hair restraints; (7) Storing clothing orother personal belongings in areas other than where biomass is exposedor where equipment or utensils are washed; (8) Confining the followingto areas other than where biomass may be exposed or where equipment orutensils are washed: eating biomass, chewing gum, drinking beverages, orusing tobacco; and (9) Taking any other necessary precautions to protectagainst contamination of biomass, biomass-contact surfaces, orbiomass-packaging materials with microorganisms or foreign substancesincluding, but not limited to, perspiration, hair, cosmetics, tobacco,chemicals, and medicines applied to the skin. The microalgal biomass canoptionally be subjected to a cell disruption procedure to generate alysate and/or optionally dried to form a microalgal biomass composition.

EXAMPLE 8

Solvent Extraction of Oil from Biomass

Algal oil is extracted from microalgal biomass prepared as described inExample 1 by physically disrupting the biomass and contacting thedisrupted biomass with an organic solvent, e.g., hexane, for a period oftime sufficient to allow the oil to form a solution with the hexane. Thesolution is then filtered and the hexane removed by rotoevaporation torecover the extracted oil.

EXAMPLE 9

Solventless Extraction of Oil from Biomass

In an alternative to the solvent extraction procedure described inExample 8, algal oil is extracted from microalgal biomass prepared asdescribed in Example 7 following lysis of the cells by applying physicalpressure to the biomass in a press. The oil thus separated from thecellular material is then recovered.

EXAMPLE 10

Diversity of Lipid Chains in Algal Species

Lipid samples from a subset of strains grown in Example 1 were analyzedfor lipid profile using standard HPLC techniques. The results expressedas a percentage of total lipids and are summarized below in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Diversity of lipid chains in algal species. Strain C:14:0 C:16:0C:16:1 C:18:0 C:18:1 C:18:2 C:18:3 C:20:0 C:20:1 Chlorella 0.57 10.30 03.77 70.52 14.24 1.45 0.27 0 protothecoides (UTEX 250) Chlorella 0.618.70 0.30 2.42 71.98 14.21 1.15 0.20 0.24 protothecoides (UTEX 25)Chlorella 0.68 9.82 0 2.83 65.78 12.94 1.46 0 0 kessleri (UTEX 397)Chlorella 1.47 21.96 0 4.35 22.64 9.58 5.2 3.88 3.3 kessleri (UTEX 2229)Prototheca 0 12.01 0 0 50.33 17.14 0 0 0 stagnora (UTEX 327) Prototheca1.41 29.44 0.70 3.05 57.72 12.37 0.97 0.33 0 moriformis (UTEX 1441)Prototheca 1.09 25.77 25.77 2.75 54.01 11.90 2.44 0 0 moriformis (UTEX1435)

EXAMPLE 11

Carotenoid, Phospholipid, Tocotrienol and Tocopherol Composition ofChlorella protothecoides UTEX 250 Biomass

A sample of algal biomass produced using methods described in Example 7was analyzed for tocotrienol and tocopherol content using normal phaseHPLC, AOCS Method Ce 8-89. The tocotrienol and tocopherol-containingfraction of the biomass was extracted using hexane or another non-polarsolvent. The complete tocotrienol and tocopherol composition results aresummarized in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Tocotrienol and tocopherol content in algal biomass. Tocotrienoland tocopherol composition of Chlorella protothecoides UTEX 250Tocopherols Alpha tocopherol 6.29 mg/100 g Delta tocopherol 0.47 mg/100g Gamma tocopherol 0.54 mg/100 g Total tocopherols  7.3 mg/100 gTocotrienols Alpha tocotrienol 0.13 mg/g Beta tocotrienol 0 Gammatocotrienol 0.09 mg/g Delta tocotrienol 0 Total tocotrienols 0.22 mg/g

The carotenoid-containing fraction of the biomass was isolated andanalyized fpr carotenoids using HPLC methods. The carotenoid-containingfraction was prepared by mixing lyophilized algal biomass (producedusing methods described in Example 8) with silicon carbide in analuminum mortar and ground four times for 1 minute each time, with amortar and pestle. The ground biomass and silicon mixture was thenrinsed with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the supernatant was collected.Extraction of the biomass was repeated until the supernatant wascolorless and the THF supernatant from all of the extractions werepooled and analyzed for carotenoid content using standard HPLC methods.The carotenoid content for algal biomass that was dried using a drumdryer was also analyzed using the methods described above.

The carotenoid content of freeze dried algal biomass was: total lutein(66.9-68.9 mcg/g: with cis-lutein ranging from 12.4-12.7 mcg/g andtrans-lutein ranging from 54.5-56.2 mcg/g); trans-zeaxanthin(31.427-33.451 mcg/g); cis-zeaxanthin (1.201-1.315 mcg/g); t-alphacryptoxanthin (3.092-3.773 mcg/g); t-beta cryptoxanthin (1.061-1.354mcg/g); 15-cis-beta carotene (0.625-0.0675 mcg/g); 13-cis-beta carotene(0.0269-0.0376 mcg/g); t-alpha carotene (0.269-0.0376 mcg/g); c-alphacarotene (0.043-0.010 mcg/g); t-beta carotene (0.664-0.741 mcg/g); and9-cis-beta carotene (0.241-0.263 mcg/g). The total reported carotenoidsranged from 105.819 mcg/g to 110.815 mcg/g.

The carotenoid content of the drum-dried algal biomass was significantlylower: total lutein (0.709 mcg/g: with trans-lutein being 0.091 mcg/gand cis-lutein being 0.618 mcg/g); trans-zeaxanthin (0.252 mcg/g);cis-zeaxanthin (0.037 mcg/g); alpha-cryptoxanthin (0.010 mcg/g);beta-cryptoxanthin (0.010 mcg/g) and t-beta-carotene (0.008 mcg/g). Thetotal reported carotenoids were 1.03 mcg/g. These data suggest that themethod used for drying the algal biomass can significantly affect thecarotenoid content.

Phospholipid analysis was also performed on the algal biomasss. Thephospholipid containing fraction was extracted using the Folchextraction method (chloroform, methanol and water mixture) and the oilsample was analyzed using AOCS Official Method Ja 7b-91, HPLCdetermination of hydrolysed lecithins (International Lecithin andPhopholipid Society 1999), and HPLC analysis of phospholipids with lightscatting detection (International Lecithin and Phospholipid Society1995) methods for phospholipid content. The total phospholipids bypercent w/w was 1.18%. The phospholipid profile of algal oil wasphosphatidylcholine (62.7%), phosphatidylethanolamine (24.5%),lysophosphatidiylcholine (1.7%) and phosphatidylinositol (11%). Similaranalysis using hexane extraction of the phospholipid-containing fractionfrom the algal biomass was also performed. The total phospholipids bypercent w/w was 0.5%. The phospholipid profile wasphosphatidylethanolamine (44%), phosphatidylcholine (42%) andphosphatidylinositol (14%).

EXAMPLE 12

Saponification of Microalgal Biomass

Biomass having a high-oil content (at least ˜15% oil by dry weight) isgenerated by the methods described herein. The biomass comprises driedwhole algal cells containing lipid globules encapsulated in partiallydehydrated cell mass.

Preparation of a Liquid Cellular Soap: The biomass is dispersed in waterto form an oil-in-cell emulsion concentrate. An excess of KOH sufficientto convert the desired amount of glycerolipids and fatty acid esters tofatty acid salts is then dissolved in the aqueous solution comprisingthe biomass. The mixture is then stirred to facilitate completion of thealkaline hydrolysis reaction, and heated to a temperature between 80-90°C. for from 30 minutes to 12 hours to complete the conversion of lipidsto fatty acid salts. Water lost to evaporation is replaced as necessarythroughout the reaction process. Additives are combined with thesaponified composition, including glycerin (for clarity and to impart amoisturizing characteristic), ethylenediamine ((EDTA) as a chelatingagent to enhance performance when used in hard water conditions),cocoamidopropyl betaine (an amphoteric surfactant used to impartcleansing and rinsing properties), and a fragrance to produce a soapproduct. In some embodiments, the soap product comprises a cellular soapwith components as shown in Table 5 below. An example of wholemicroalgae cells used in a soap composition is show in the FIGURE.

TABLE 5 Components of cellular soap made directly from biomass.Component Quantity Biomass (Whole Cells) 10-60% KOH 1-5% Glycerin  5-25%Fragrance 1-2% EDTA 1-5% Water to 100%

The cellular soaps described in this example include natural hydratingand skin softening characteristics imparted by the presence ofcarbohydrates and proteins from the algal cells, as well as antioxidantproperties derived from the incorporation of algal carotenoids,tocotrienols, tocopherls, and other compounds into the composition.

Alternatively, an organic base such as triethanolamine is used in thealkaline hydrolysis reaction to produce a clearer product. The use oftriethanolamine or another organic base produces a milder product, lesslikely to cause irritation to skin.

Optionally, the fatty acid salts are precipitated from the mixture byaddition of NaCl or KCl salts, and separated for use in compositions incombination with various additives as described herein.

EXAMPLE 13

Saponification of Hexane-Extracted Oil from Microalgal Biomass

Biomass is generated according to the methods described herein.Conventional hexane extraction of the lipids from the biomass isperformed. The hexane extracted lipids are then saponified by mixing thelipids with an aqueous solution of NaOH or KOH containing an amount ofbase sufficient to convert the desired amount of lipid to fatty acidsalts, and optionally heating the mixture to expedite the reaction. Thefatty acid salts are then precipitated by addition of NaCl or KCl.Compositions of saponified oils derived from hexane-extracted biomasscontain higher proportions of contaminating carotenoids thansolventless-extracted oils due to the efficiency with which hexaneextracts such compounds from the microbial biomass.

EXAMPLE 14

Saponification of Solventless-Extracted Oil from Microalgal Biomass

Biomass is generated according to the methods described herein. Asolventless extraction of the lipids from the biomass is performed bylysis and pressing of the biomass through the use of physical pressure,or alternatively through methods such as those described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,750,048. The extracted lipids are saponified by mixing the lipidswith an aqueous solution of NaOH or KOH containing an amount of basesufficient to convert the desired amount of lipid to fatty acid salts,and optionally heating the mixture to expedite the reaction. The fattyacid salts are then precipitated by addition of NaCl or KCl.Compositions of saponified oils derived from hexane-extracted biomasscontain relatively lower proportions of contaminating carotenoids, ascompared to solventless-extracted lipids, due to the decreasedefficiency with which such compounds are extracted from the microbialbiomass using the solventless procedure.

EXAMPLE 15

Algal Soap

Biomass is generated and prepared according to the methods describedherein. Algal oil is extracted from the biomass by conventional hexaneextraction, or by a solventless extraction procedure. The algal oil iscombined with other cosmetic ingredients, as shown in Tables 6 and 7, asdescribed below, to form a liquid or solid algal soap.

Liquid Formula: Lauric acid and sucrose cocoate are heated to form amelted mixture to which potassium hydroxide and algal oil are added toform an algal soup mix. Water is heated to 90° C. and the algal soup mixis added to the water to form a solution. Lauryl glucoside,cocoamidopropyl betaine, coco hydrolyzed soy protein, arginine andsalicylic acid are then added to the solution, which is mixed until thesolution is clear. The clear solution is then allowed to cool and thefragrance/flavor is added. The liquid algal soap is then bottled.

TABLE 6 Components of liquid algal soap. Component Quantity LaurylGlucoside  25% Cocoamidopropyl Betaine  10% Coco Hydrolyzed Soy Protein  5% Lauric Acid   2% Algal Oil   1% Sucrose Cocoate   5% PotassiumHydroxide 0.5% Arginine 0.5% Salicylic Acid 0.5% Fragrance/Flavor 0.5%Water to 100%

Solid Formula: Soap noodles (potassium cocoate and potassium stearate)are added to a soap plodder. Algal oil and fragrance are added to theplodder and mixed with the noodles. Soap is extruded and die cut intobars of a desired shape.

TABLE 7 Components of solid algal soap. Component Quantity Soap Noodles94.5% (potassium cocoate and potassium stearate) Algal Oil   5%Fragrance  0.5%

EXAMPLE 16

Algal Clay Mask

Biomass is generated and prepared according to the methods describedherein, preferably containing at least 15% oil dry cell weight. Algaloil is extracted from the biomass by conventional hexane extraction, orby a solventless extraction procedure. Biomass comprising predominantlyintact whole algal cells is used in the whole cell formulation. Thebiomass or algal oil is combined with other cosmetic ingredients, asshown in Tables 10 and 11, as described below, to form algal oil orwhole cell algal clay masks.

Algal Oil Formulation: Gums (acacia, cellulose and PVP) are dispersed ina mixture of water and aloe juice along with propylene glycol. EDTA isadded to the dispersion, and the dispersion is heated to 70° C. In aseparate container, the oils (glyceryl stearate, lecithin, vitamin E,and algal oil) are heated to 70° C. The heated oils are added to thedispersion containing the gums and mixed to form an emulsion. Bentoniteis added to the emulsion as it cools, and with continued mixing theallantoin, benzyl alcohol, capryl glycol and phenoxyethanol are added tothe mixture to form the algal oil clay mask.

TABLE 8 Components of algal oil clay mask. Component Quantity Bentonite  5-20% Glyceryl Stearate SE   1-10% Algae Oil   1-20% Propylene Glycol  1-10% Lecithin   1-5% Cellulose Gum 0.1-1% Acacia Senegal Gum 0.1-1%Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) 0.1-1% Vitamin E 0.1-1% Allantoin 0.1-1% AloeBarbadensis Leaf Juice   1-50% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)  0.1-0.5% Phenoxyethanol 0.1-1% Capryl Glycol 0.1-2% Benzyl Alcohol0.1-1% Water to 100%

Whole Cell Formulation: Gums (acacia, cellulose and PVP) are dispersedin a mixture of the water and aloe juice along with the propyleneglycol. EDTA is added to the dispersion, and the dispersion is heated to70° C. In a separate container, the oils (glyceryl stearate, lecithin,and vitamin E) are heated to 70° C. The heated oils are added to thedispersion containing the gums and mixed to form an emulsion. Bentoniteand whole algae cells are added to the emulsion as it cools, and withcontinued mixing the allantoin, benzyl alcohol, capryl glycol andphenoxyethanol are added to the mixture to form the whole cell algalclay mask.

TABLE 9 Components of whole cell algal clay mask. Component QuantityBentonite   5-20% Glyceryl Stearate SE   1-10% Whole Algae Cells   1-20%Propylene Glycol   1-10% Lecithin   1-5% Cellulose Gum 0.1-1% AcaciaSenegal Gum 0.1-1% Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) 0.1-1% Vitamin E 0.1-1%Allantoin 0.1-1% Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice   1-50%Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)   0.1-0.5% Phenoxyethanol 0.1-1%Capryl Glycol 0.1-2% Benzyl Alcohol 0.1-1% Water to 100%

EXAMPLE 17

Beauty Biomass Emulsion/Beauty Serum

Biomass comprising cells having at least 50% oil by dry weight isgenerated and prepared according to the methods described hereinincluding a drying step. The biomass is combined with other cosmeticingredients, as shown in Table 10, as described below, to form thebeauty biomass emulsion.

Xanthum gum is dispersed in water heated to 50° C., and upon dissolutionthe B vitamins, salicylic acid, lysine, arginine, and superoxidedismutase are added. The composition is mixed until clear. Into thiscomposition is dispersed the algae cells and the composition is mixed toform a homogenous dispersion. Fragrance is added and the dispersion isbottled.

TABLE 10 Components of beauty biomass emulsion. Component Quantity WholeDried Algae Cells  30% Xanthum Gum 0.3% Vitamin B1 0.1% Vitamin B2 0.1%Vitamin B3 0.1% Vitamin B5 0.1% Vitamin B6 0.1% Salicylic Acid 0.5%Lysine 0.1% Arginine 0.5% Superoxide Dismutase 0.1% Fragrance 0.2% Waterto 100%

Whole Cell Beauty Serum: A whole cell dispersion is made using 15% highoil (approx. 49% lipid DCW) Algal Flour in 85% deionized water and ahigh pressure homogenizer (Niro). The other ingredients, shown in Table11 below, were combined with the whole cell dispersion and homogenizeduntil smooth.

TABLE 11 Components of whole cell beauty serum. Component Quantity WholeCell Dispersion (15% Algal Flour in deionized water)  50% Xanthan Gum0.03%  Vitamin B3 0.1% Vitamin B5 0.1% Phenoxyethanol & Capryl glycol &Chlorphenesin 0.5% (Mikrokill CO5) Deionized Water  49%

EXAMPLE 18

Algal Beauty Oil

Biomass is generated and prepared according to the methods describedherein. Algal oil is extracted from the biomass by conventional hexaneextraction or by a solventless extraction procedure. The algal oil iscombined with other cosmetic ingredients, as shown in Table 12, asdescribed below, to form the algal beauty oil.

Approximately 20% of the algal oil is heated to 120° C. and thehydrogenated lecithin, cholesterol, and the sterols are dissolvedtherein. The remaining algal oil is blended with the vitamins andcoenzyme Q10 until a clear composition is formed. The heated oilsolution is added to the blended oil composition and stirred. Fragranceis added, and the composition is cooled and bottled.

TABLE 12 Components of algal beauty oil. Component Quantity Algal Oil98.0% Vitamin E 0.5% Vitamin A 0.1% Vitamin D 0.2% Coenzyme Q10 0.1%Phytosterol/Phycosterol 0.5% Hydrogenated Lecithin 0.3% Cholesterol 0.1%Fragrance 0.2%

EXAMPLE 19

Oil/Salt Scrub

Biomass comprising cells having at least 20% oil by dry weight isgenerated and prepared according to the methods described herein. Algaloil is extracted from the biomass by conventional hexane extraction, orby a solventless extraction procedure. The algal oil is combined withother cosmetic ingredients, as shown in Table 13, as described below, toform the oil/salt scrub.

Hydrogenated lecithin, sucrose cocoate and hydrogenated castor oil aredissolved in the algal oil by heating the mixture to 110° C. Thesolution is then cooled to 45° C. and the salt crystals are stirred in.Fragrance is added and the composition is cooled and bottled.

TABLE 13 Components of algal oil/salt scrub. Component Quantity AlgalOil 60% Salt Crystals 30% Sucrose Cocoate 5% Hydrogenated Lecithin 2%Hydrogenated Castor Oil 2% Fragrance 1%

EXAMPLE 20

Marine Infusion Algal Beauty Oil

Biomass is generated and prepared according to the methods describedherein. Algal oil is extracted from the biomass by methods describedherein. The algal oil is combined with other cosmetic ingredients, asshown in Table 14, as described below, to form the marine infusion algalbeauty oil.

Squalane is mixed with the algal oil. The mixture is heated to 60° C.,and the algal carotenoids (xeaxanthin, asthaxanthin, pytoene,phytofluene) and phycosterols are dissolved in the mixture. The solutionis cooled to 40° C. and the algal DHA oil, vitamin E and fragrance areadded. The composition is stirred, cooled and bottled.

TABLE 14 Components of marine infusion algal beauty oil. ComponentQuantity Algal Oil  57% Algal Xeaxanthin 0.1% Algal Phytoene 0.1% AlgalPhytofluene 0.1% Algal Asthaxanthin 0.1% Phycosterols 0.1% Vitamin E  1% Squalene  40% docosahexanoic acid (DHA) oil   1% Fragrance 0.5%

EXAMPLE 21

Algal Whole Cell Shampoo and Conditioner

Biomass is generated and prepared according to the methods describedherein.

Whole Cell Shampoo: A whole cell dispersion (1% algal solids, made usingalgal flakes containing approx. 50% lipid DCW) was made first using aNiro homogenizer on the lowest setting as not to break the cell walls ofthe algal biomass, and set aside for later combination with theingredients shown in Table 15, below. Water was combined with theglycerin and warmed (so that the glycerin will go into solution) and thePolyquaternium 11 was added into the warmed glycerin/water solution. Theguar gum was added and mixed followed by the Surfapon AG-20, Mackam 2Cand Foamsoy C. The solution was warmed to between 60-70° C. and theOptiphen was added. The Monadmin CMA and Cerasynt IP was melted togetherand added to the hot shampoo mixture. The algal dispersion was added andthe remaining water was added. The shampoo was cooled and bottled.

TABLE 15 Components of algal whole cell shampoo. Component Quantity (byweight) Deionized Water 20.67%  Glycerin 9.96%  Surfapon AG-20 39.84% Foam Soy C 2.99%  Mackam 2C 9.96%  Keltrol T 0.6% Guar Gum 0.6% WholeCell Algal Dispersion   3% (algal flakes at 1% solids) Polyquaternium 110.2% Cerasynt IP 0.7% Monamid CMA   2% Optiphen 0.5% Deionized Water8.9% Fragrance 0.6%

Whole Cell Conditioner: A whole cell dispersion (1.5% algal solids,algal flakes containing approx. 50% lipid DCW) was made first using aNiro homogenizer on the lowest setting as not to break the cell walls ofthe algal biomass. The remaining ingredients shown in Table 16, below,were combined with the whole cell dispersion until smooth. A sample ofthe finished conditioner was kept at room temperature for over 6 monthsand the product is stable and does not separate.

TABLE 16 Components of algal whole cell conditioner. Description % ByWeight Ingredient's Role In Formulation Whole Cell 5.00% Naturallyincreases softness Dispersion (1.5% Nutritive and conditioning algalcells in Increased bio-moisturization deionized water) All natural andsustainably grown Natural protectant/nourisher of the scalp Water 81.20%Aqua-based system Cetyl Alcohol 6.00% Emollient and Emulsifyingingredient Stearyl Alcohol 0.50% Emollient and Emulsifying ingredientGlycerin 3.00% Moisturizer Isopropanol 1.70% Parfum 0.50% Polyquaternium11 0.10% Thickening and styling agent Parfum 0.40% Nicotineic Acid 0.05%Styling agent Aloe Barbadensis 0.10% Soothing and moisturizing LeafJuice ingredient Pantothenic 0.05% Bio-Moisturizer Acid/YeastPolypeptide Sucrose 1.00% Softening and styling agent Fragrance 0.40%Emulsifier Citric Acid Q.S

EXAMPLE 22

Absence of Algal Toxins in Dried Chlorella protothecoides Biomass

A sample of dried Chlorella protothecoides (UTEX 250) biomass wasanalyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS) analysis for the presence of contaminating algal andcyanobacterial toxins. The analyses covered all groups of algal andcyanobacterial toxins published in the literature and mentioned ininternational food regulations. The analyses were directed to excludevery low concentrations of a certain toxin using both LC-MS/MS methodsand bioassays. The results show that the biomass sample did not containany detectable levels of any of the aglal or cyanobacterial toxins thatwere tested. The results are summarized below in Table 17.

TABLE 17 LC-MS/MS analytical results for algal and cyanobacterialtoxins. Limit of detection Toxin Category Toxin Result (LC/MS) AmnesicShellfish Domoic Acid Not detectable   1 μg/g Poisoning (ASP) ToxinsDiarrhetic Shellfish Okadaic acid and Not detectable 0.1 μg/g Poisoning(DSP) Toxins Dinophysistoxins Pectenotoxins Not detectable 0.1 μg/gYessotoxins Not detectable 0.1 μg/g Azaspiracides Not detectable 0.1μg/g Gymnodimines Not detectable 0.1 μg/g Paralytic Shellfish SaxitoxinNot detectable (HPLC/FD) 0.3 μg/g Poisoning (PSP) Toxins NeosaxitoxinNot detectable (HPLC/FD) 0.3 μg/g Decarbamoylsaxitoxin Not detectable(HPLC/FD)) 0.3 μg/g Gonyautoxins Not detectable (HPLC/FD) 0.3 μg/gNeurotoxic Shellfish Brevetoxins Not detectable 0.1 μg/g Poisoning (NSP)Toxins Cyanobacterial toxins Microsystins MC-RR, Not detectable 0.1 μg/gMC-LR, MC-YR, MC- LA, MC-LW and MC- LF Nodularin Not detectable 0.1 μg/gAnatoxin-a Not detectable 0.5 μg/g Cylindrospermopsins Not detectable0.2 μg/g Beta-Methylamino-L- Not detectable 2.5 μg/g Alanine

EXAMPLE 23

Genotyping of Microalgae

Genomic DNA was isolated from algal biomass as follows. Cells(approximately 200 mg) were centifuged from liquid cultures 5 minutes at14,000×g. Cells were then resuspended in sterile distilled water,centrifuged 5 minutes at 14,000×g and the supernatant discarded. Asingle glass bead ˜2 mm in diameter was added to the biomass and tubeswere placed at −80° C. for at least 15 minutes. Samples were removed and150 μl of grinding buffer (1% Sarkosyl, 0.25 M Sucrose, 50 mM NaCl, 20mM EDTA, 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, RNase A 0.5 ug/ul) was added. Pelletswere resuspended by vortexing briefly, followed by the addition of 40 ulof 5M NaCl. Samples were vortexed briefly, followed by the addition of66 μl of 5% CTAB (Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) and a final briefvortex. Samples were next incubated at 65° C. for 10 minutes after whichthey were centrifuged at 14,000×g for 10 minutes. The supernatant wastransferred to a fresh tube and extracted once with 300 μl ofPhenol:Chloroform:Isoamyl alcohol 12:12:1, followed by centrifugationfor 5 minutes at 14,000×g. The resulting aqueous phase was transferredto a fresh tube containing 0.7 vol of isopropanol (˜190 μl), mixed byinversion and incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes or overnightat 4° C. DNA was recovered via centrifugation at 14,000×g for 10minutes. The resulting pellet was then washed twice with 70% ethanol,followed by a final wash with 100% ethanol. Pellets were air dried for20-30 minutes at room temperature followed by resuspension in 50 μl of10 mM TrisCl, 1 mM EDTA (pH 8.0).

Five μl of total algal DNA, prepared as described above, was diluted1:50 in 10 mM Tris, pH 8.0. PCR reactions, final volume 20 μl, were setup as follows. Ten μl of 2×iProof HF master mix (BIO-RAD) was added to0.4 μl primer SZ02613 (5′-TGTTGAAGAATGAGCCGGCGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:24) at 10mM stock concentration). This primer sequence runs from position 567-588in Gen Bank accession no. L43357 and is highly conserved in higherplants and algal plastid genomes. This was followed by the addition of0.4 μl primer SZ02615 (5′-CAGTGAGCTATTACGCACTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:25) at 10mM stock concentration). This primer sequence is complementary toposition 1112-1093 in Gen Bank accession no. L43357 and is highlyconserved in higher plants and algal plastid genomes. Next, 5 μl ofdiluted total DNA and 3.2 μl dH₂O were added. PCR reactions were run asfollows: 98° C., 45″; 98° C., 8″; 53° C., 12″; 72° C., 20″ for 35 cyclesfollowed by 72° C. for 1 min and holding at 25° C. For purification ofPCR products, 20 μl of 10 mM Tris, pH 8.0, was added to each reaction,followed by extraction with 40 μl of Phenol:Chloroform:isoamyl alcohol12:12:1, vortexing and centrifuging at 14,000×g for 5 minutes. PCRreactions were applied to S-400 columns (GE Healthcare) and centrifugedfor 2 minutes at 3,000×g. Purified PCR products were subsequently TOPOcloned into PCR8/GW/TOPO and positive clones selected for on LB/Specplates. Purified plasmid DNA was sequenced in both directions using M13forward and reverse primers. Sequences from strains 1-23 (designated inExample 1, Table 1) are listed as SEQ ID NOs:1-23 in the attachedSequence Listing.

EXAMPLE 24

Genotyping Analysis of Commercially Purchased Chlorella Samples

Three commercially purchased Chlorella samples, Chlorella regularis (NewChapter, 390 mg/gelcap), Whole Foods Broken Cell Wall Chlorella (WholeFoods, 500 mg/pressed tablet) and NutriBiotic CGF Chlorella(NutriBiotic, 500 mg/pressed tablet), were genotyped using the methodsdescribed in Example 22. Approximately 200 mg of each commerciallypurchased Chlorella samples were resuspended and sterile distilled waterfor genomic DNA isolation.

The resulting PCR products were isolated and cloned into vectors andsequenced using M13 forward and reverse primers. The sequences werecompared to known sequences using a BLAST search.

Comparison of 23s rRNA DNA sequences revealed that two out of the threecommercially purchased Chlorella samples had DNA sequences matchingLyngbya aestuarii present (Whole Foods Broken Wall Chlorella andNutriBiotic CGF). Lyngbya aestuarii is a marine-species cynobacteria.These results show that some commercially available Chlorella containother species of contaminating microorganisms, including organisms fromgenera such as Lyngbya that are known to produce toxins (see for exampleTeneva et. al, Environmental Toxicology, 18(1)1, pp. 9-20 (2003);Matthew et al., J Nat Prod., 71(6): pp. 1113-6 (2008); and Carmichael etal., Appl Environ Microbiol, 63(8): pp. 3104-3110 (1997).

EXAMPLE 25

Oil Content Analysis of Commercially Purchased Chlorella Samples

The three commercially purchased Chlorella samples described above wereanalyzed for total lipid content (% w/w) and total fatty acid contentusing gas chromatography analysis (GC/FID). Results were confirmed usingmass spectrometry. Results are summarized below in Table 18. Thedifference between total lipid content and total fatty acid content islikely due to phospholipids, pigments and sterols, which would beincluded in the total lipid content, but not in the total fatty acidcontent. A detailed analysis of the individual fatty acid content ofeach sample is summarized in Table 19 below.

TABLE 18 Oil content of commercially purchased Chlorella samples.Manufacturer Total Lipid Content (%) Total Fatty Acid Content (%) WholeFoods 8.8 6.2 New Chapter 5.0 3.8 Nutribiotic 14.0 9.4

TABLE 19 Fatty acid content of commercially purchased Chlorella samples.Manufacturer C14:0 C16:0 C16:1 C18:0 C18:1 C18:2 Whole Foods 0.41%28.77% 1.10% 7.16% 47.53% 15.03% New Chapter 3.58% 45.84% 0.00% 14.03%30.05% 6.49% Nutribiotic 0.00% 33.14% 0.00% 12.46% 36.78% 17.63%

What is claimed is:
 1. A topical cosmetic composition comprisingmicroalgal biomass of heterotrophically cultivated Chlorellaprotothecoides and at least one other cosmetic ingredient, wherein themicroalgal biomass (i) is not green in color, (ii) comprises less than5% DHA and at least 10% microalgal oil by dry weight, and (iii) furthercomprises phytosterols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, or xanthophylls. 2.The topical cosmetic composition of claim 1, wherein the biomasscomprises at least 5 mg of tocopherols per 100 grams of biomass.
 3. Thetopical cosmetic composition of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprisesat least 0.1 mg of tocotrienols per gram of biomass.
 4. The topicalcosmetic composition of claim 1, wherein the biomass comprisespredominantly intact or lysed cells.
 5. The cosmetic composition ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one other cosmetic ingredient is aningredient selected from the group consisting of an absorbent, abrasive,anticaking agent, antifoaming agent, soluble polysaccharide, insolublepolysaccharide, partially soluble polysaccharide, microalgalpolysaccharide, antimicrobial agent, binder, biological additive,buffering agent, bulking agent, chemical additive, cosmetic biocide,denaturant, cosmetic astringent, drug astringent, external analgesic,film former, humectant, opacifying agents, fragrance, flavor oil,pigment, coloring, essential oil, skin sensate, emollients, skinsoothing agent, skin healing agent, pH adjuster, plasticizer,preservative, preservative enhancer, propellant, reducing agent,skin-conditioning agent, skin penetration enhancing agent, skinprotectant, solvent, suspending agent, emulsifier, thickening agent,solubilizing agent, soap, sunscreen, sunblock, ultraviolet lightabsorber, ultraviolet light scattering agent, sunless tanning agent,antioxidant, radical scavenger, chelating agent, sequestrant, anti-acneagent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-androgen, depilation agent,desquamation agent, exfoliant, organic hydroxy acid, vitamin, vitaminderivative, and natural plant extract.
 6. A topical cosmetic compositioncomprising microalgal oil isolated from microalgal biomass ofheterotrophically cultivated Chlorella protothecoides, the cosmeticcomposition comprising at least one other cosmetic ingredient, whereinthe microalgal biomass (i) is not green in color, (ii) comprises lessthan 5% DHA and at least 10% microalgal oil by dry weight, and (iii)further comprises phytosterols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, orxanthophylls.
 7. The topical cosmetic composition of claim 6, whereinthe biomass comprises at least 5 mg of tocopherols per 100 grams ofbiomass.
 8. The topical cosmetic composition of claim 6, wherein thebiomass comprises at least 0.1 mg of tocotrienols per gram of biomass.9. The cosmetic composition of claim 7, wherein the at least one othercosmetic ingredient is an ingredient selected from the group consistingof an absorbent, abrasive, anticaking agent, antifoaming agent, solublepolysaccharide, insoluble polysaccharide, partially solublepolysaccharide, microalgal polysaccharide, antimicrobial agent, binder,biological additive, buffering agent, bulking agent, chemical additive,cosmetic biocide, denaturant, cosmetic astringent, drug astringent,external analgesic, film former, humectant, opacifying agents,fragrance, flavor oil, pigment, coloring, essential oil, skin sensate,emollients, skin soothing agent, skin healing agent, pH adjuster,plasticizer, preservative, preservative enhancer, propellant, reducingagent, skin-conditioning agent, skin penetration enhancing agent, skinprotectant, solvent, suspending agent, emulsifier, thickening agent,solubilizing agent, soap, sunscreen, sunblock, ultraviolet lightabsorber, ultraviolet light scattering agent, sunless tanning agent,antioxidant, radical scavenger, chelating agent, sequestrant, anti-acneagent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-androgen, depilation agent,desquamation agent, exfoliant, organic hydroxy acid, vitamin, vitaminderivative, and natural plant extract.
 10. A method of making a topicalcosmetic composition comprising combining microalgal biomass with atleast one other cosmetic ingredient, wherein the microalgal biomass (i)is not green in color, (ii) comprises less than 5% DHA and at least 10%microalgal oil by dry weight, and (iii) further comprises phytosterols,tocopherols, tocotrienols, or xanthophylls.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the biomass comprises at least 5 mg of tocopherols per 100 gramsof biomass.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the biomass comprises atleast 0.1 mg of tocotrienols per gram of biomass.
 13. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the biomass comprises predominantly intact or lysedcells.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one othercosmetic ingredient is an ingredient selected from the group consistingof an absorbent, abrasive, anticaking agent, antifoaming agent, solublepolysaccharide, insoluble polysaccharide, partially solublepolysaccharide, microalgal polysaccharide, antimicrobial agent, binder,biological additive, buffering agent, bulking agent, chemical additive,cosmetic biocide, denaturant, cosmetic astringent, drug astringent,external analgesic, film former, humectant, opacifying agents,fragrance, flavor oil, pigment, coloring, essential oil, skin sensate,emollients, skin soothing agent, skin healing agent, pH adjuster,plasticizer, preservative, preservative enhancer, propellant, reducingagent, skin-conditioning agent, skin penetration enhancing agent, skinprotectant, solvent, suspending agent, emulsifier, thickening agent,solubilizing agent, soap, sunscreen, sunblock, ultraviolet lightabsorber, ultraviolet light scattering agent, sunless tanning agent,antioxidant, radical scavenger, chelating agent, sequestrant, anti-acneagent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-androgen, depilation agent,desquamation agent, exfoliant, organic hydroxy acid, vitamin, vitaminderivative, and natural plant extract.
 15. A method of making a topicalcosmetic composition comprising combining microalgal oil isolated frommicroalgal biomass of heterotrophically cultivated Chlorellaprotothecoides with at least one other cosmetic ingredient, wherein themicroalgal biomass (i) is not green in color, (ii) comprises less than5% DHA and at least 10% microalgal oil by dry weight, and (iii) furthercomprises phytosterols, tocopherols, tocotrienols, or xanthophylls. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein the biomass comprises at least 5 mg oftocopherols per 100 grams of biomass.
 17. The method of claim 15,wherein the biomass comprises at least 0.1 mg of tocotrienols per gramof biomass.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one othercosmetic ingredient is an ingredient selected from the group consistingof an absorbent, abrasive, anticaking agent, antifoaming agent, solublepolysaccharide, insoluble polysaccharide, partially solublepolysaccharide, microalgal polysaccharide, antimicrobial agent, binder,biological additive, buffering agent, bulking agent, chemical additive,cosmetic biocide, denaturant, cosmetic astringent, drug astringent,external analgesic, film former, humectant, opacifying agents,fragrance, flavor oil, pigment, coloring, essential oil, skin sensate,emollients, skin soothing agent, skin healing agent, pH adjuster,plasticizer, preservative, preservative enhancer, propellant, reducingagent, skin-conditioning agent, skin penetration enhancing agent, skinprotectant, solvent, suspending agent, emulsifier, thickening agent,solubilizing agent, soap, sunscreen, sunblock, ultraviolet lightabsorber, ultraviolet light scattering agent, sunless tanning agent,antioxidant, radical scavenger, chelating agent, sequestrant, anti-acneagent, anti-inflammatory agent, anti-androgen, depilation agent,desquamation agent, exfoliant, organic hydroxy acid, vitamin, vitaminderivative, and natural plant extract.